The Bauchi State assets recovery Committee set up by the Bauchi State Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has indicted two former governors of the state; MA Abubakar and Isa Yuguda of corruption allegations and conversion of government properties to personal belongings.
The committee had asked the duos and their associates to refund over one trillion naira allegedly looted by officials of the two administrations from the coffers of the state during their tenures.
This indictment came as the committee prepares to wind up its investigations where several items belonging to the state government where discovered in the house of former governor MA Abubakar.
WikkiTimes had reported how members of the committee failed to stick to deadline given to them by Governor Bala Mohammed within which they were expected to submit their report.
Five months after, Bauchi asset recovery committee fails to submit report
A member of the committee Barrister Lawal Husseini Ibrahim stated while answering questions from newsmen on the activities of the committee on Saturday said, “as the committee was rounding up its activities, it received a whistle blower tip of items being carted away and transferred outside the state by the family of former governor Abubakar, the committee visited the House of the former Governor at Fadaman Mada and was able to recover only few items like 105 Pasta making machines , 10 sewing machines , carton of surgical hand gloves and several office furniture’s belonging to the Bauchi Government.
“The committee had earlier recovered four tractors, a luxury Bus and a House located opposite Government House, adjacent to Wikki Hotel belonging to the state government which the former governor Abubakar sold to himself”, Lawal Hussein said.
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He said the committee traced a lot of properties and resources frittered away by the two former governors and their associates.
Lawal who said the committee may submit its report any moment from now expressed optimism that if the recommendations of the committee are implemented, the two former governors and their associates will refund over one trillion naira to the state government.
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When asked about the suit filed by the two former governors challenging the activities of the committee, Barrister Lawal said, “Yes the former governors Abubakar and Yuguda took the committee before the Federal High Courts in Abuja and Bauchi State High Court, but the committee is responding adequately to the suits and will submit its report without hitches by the grace of Allah”.
Bauchi Assets Recovery Committee Indicts Ex Governor M A Abubakar on Looting of State…
He said the committee traced over 16 different pieces of land, buildings and properties at different locations in Kaduna State with certificate of occupancy belonging to the Bauchi government.
The committee also investigated various contract awarded by the two previous administrations like the purchase of 500 tractors of which 40 were delivered , looting of ecological funds, Paris club refunds and various loans.
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The committee said many other details and findings will be made public when the committee submit its report.
Efforts to Speak to the two former commissioners of Information during Mallam Isa Yuguda and MA Abubakar’s administrations, Salisu Ahmad Barau and Umar Sade during were not fruitful.
While Sade didn’t pick call and could not reply to text message sends to him, Barau’s phone number was switched off.
WikkiTimes recalls that the APC in Bauchi state has faulted the committee’s earlier indictment, describing it as “baseless”.
