Ex governor who may face efcc probe over missappropration Of billions

L-R Mohammed Abubakar, Rochas Okorocha, Abdulaziz Yari (Outstretched hand)

The 2019 elections have come and gone. With the battles over, all seem not be settling well with immediate former governors of some states following allegations of financial misappropriation riddled against them during their stay in power.  

These allegations are coming mostly from their successors, after they allege that the ex-State Chief Executives from documents and reports at their disposal shows a high level of financial embezzlement carried out by them.  

Below are three immediate formers governors who may face the anti-graft probe over allegations of misappropriation of their state funds.

Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi)

Mohammed Abubakar was elected Governor of the North East State of Bauchi in 2015 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, but unfortunately lost his re-election bid in this year’s general elections.

He lost to Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who a couple of days ago alleged that the ex-governor misappropriated the sum of N2.3bn to buy materials for burial in the state.

The governor, who spoke through his spokesperson, Dr. Ladan Salihu, in an interview with journalists in Bauchi, said the funds were spent between January and May, 2019.

He explained that over N900m was spent on the purchase of white cloth used for wrapping corpses while over N1.4bn was used to buy the wood for lacing the graves after burial.

According to him, the government discovered issues of corruption, venality, daylight robbery of the commonwealth of the people of the state, adding that there were documentary evidence to prove that.

The governor’s spokesman vowed that the state government would use every instrument of the law, including petitioning the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC and other anti-corruption agencies on the matter, “until every kobo stolen is returned.”

Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara)

Abdulaziz Yari is the immediate past governor of Zamfara State. He was elected as the state Chief Executive in 2011 and reelected in 2015 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Only yesterday the former governor was indicted by the Transition Committee set up by the State Governor Bello Matawalle over allegation that he misappropriated N251, 951,849,482.50 during his tenure.

This was revealed to journalists on Monday by the Chairman of the Transition Committee and immediate past Deputy Governor of the state, Mallam Ibrahim Wakkala.

Wakkala said: “My committee while trying to ascertain the liabilities left behind by the immediate past administration of Hon. Abdulaziz Yari collected and went through the report submitted by a Transition Committee earlier set up by former Governor Yari.

“We discovered from Yari’s committee that the sum of over N250 billion cannot be accounted for.

“This included liabilities from a total of 462 ongoing projects, which stands at N151,190,477,572.02, and unremitted National Housing Fund and unpaid workers’ gratuity of N1,431,645,305.99.

“Similarly, the state government is indebted to various examination bodies, including NECO and WAEC and some higher institutions, amounting to over N2.8 billion.”

Wakkala said the outgone administration, which released N2 billion for the payment of gratuity to retired workers, only paid N400 million to retired Permanent Secretaries, while the remaining balance of N1.6 billion had remained unaccounted for.

With these allegations, it is not uncertain the EFCC or ICPC whether or not will go after the former governor to account for these allegations.

Rochas Okorocha (Imo)

Though no financial allegations have been officially made by the current Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha or any public official in the state against the immediate ex-governor, now senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, Rochas Okorocha, it can’t be ruled out that he will be totally free from any probe.

This is in view of the constitution of a financial advisory committee saddled with the task of carrying out a forensic audit and reviewing “all financial transactions” under Okorocha’s administration. The committee was inaugurated on Monday, June 10, 2019.

Ihedioha had approved the constitution of the committee which is expected to review loans and financial disbursements approved by Okorocha who presided over the state from 29 May 2011 – 29 May 2019.

The committee has the former Director-General of Debt Management Office (DMO), Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, as its chairman, and Mr. Nick Opara Ndudu as its secretary.