After the establishment of the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCAC) by the PDP-led Bauchi State Government, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that agency is designed to haunt the opposition in the state especially as the 2023 general elections draws nearer.
The APC further alleged that the purported anti-corruption agency will be deployed by Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed to haunt, silence and intimidate the opposition camp in Bauchi State.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Bauchi State APC Publicity Secretary Adamu Ali Jalla and made available to reporters in Bauchi.
“Since one of the cardinal objectives of the APC is to fight corruption in the country, the APC in the state would have welcomed the development, but it strongly suspects the motive behind the creation of the commission at this critical time.
Read: Bauchi Govt To Establish Anti-Corruption Agency
“From the on-set, Governor Bala Mohammed had shown his true colour as a legalistic autocrat and succeeded in undermining the State House of Assembly when he enabled 11 out of the 31 members to elect the speaker. His aim was to neutralize the second arm of government constitutionally created to check and oversight his actions and hold him accountable. He has weakened the chain of constitutional control on his executive powers. Thus, it is doubtful whether PCAC has followed the due process of law”
“The Governor has emasculated the State Judiciary by refusing to grant them the financial autonomy granted to them by the constitution.
“Governor Bala Mohammed has waged a sustained war on the state bureaucracy in order to intimidate, silence and cower the state Civil service to passive submission so as to rule the state like a corrupt amoral king without due regard for due process, rule of law or democratic norms.
“More importantly, Bala Mohammed is trying to oust the jurisdiction and impede the EFCC and ICPC to prosecute corrupt allegations against him, and his family nevertheless, to prove themselves, we challenge PCAC to immediately start Investigation and expeditiously prosecute the following corrupt allegations to include 30 Billion naira loan from UBA Bank for the project across the state, N 3.6 billion vehicles contract Kaura gave to himself and his family and friends through Adda Nig. Ltd.
Read: Anti-graft Agency drags Ex Bauchi Governor Abubakar before EFCC, ICPC over fresh accusations
“Other allegations are the recent sales of Bauchi state assets and Companies to kaura’s family and friends; Over N1.2 billion monthly security vote mismanagement; N8 billion Federal Government refunded funds for road construction; The N11 billion Kaura inherited in FCMB account, N6.2 billion renovation of Government House; Contract for the outsourcing of Salary Payment to consultants, a company alleged to be his son’s or his proxies thereby fleecing Bauchi State of Billions of Naira Monthly,” the statement read in part.
The APC said failure to investigate and prosecute these allegations will only re-enforce our reasonable suspicion that the PCAC is created to fight Bala Mohammed’s personal battles, witch-hunt political opponents and protect himself from the EFCC, ICPC and other federal agencies fighting corruption.
Bauchi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Yakubu Barau Ningi declined to react to the allegations raised by the APC, insisting that he has not seen a copy of the APC’s press statement.
WikkiTimes recalls that governor Bala had on Friday signed the bill for the establishment of PCAC into law.
