By Isah Abuh Yousouf
I write in relation to the allegations made against former Governor M.A Abubakar of Bauchi state and his family by the asset recovery committee set up by the incumbent Governor, Bala Mohammad as widely reported in the media
The Allegations made by the committee are spurious andunsubstantiated.
I am fully aware that, since inception of publication ofcorruption and abuse of power by the Online website, Premium Times, the currentGovernment has been trying to use the committee to cover up the matter.
I am sure the Government want to use these allegations as atool to divert or distract attention away from its wrongdoings especially a3.6bn contract scam that engulfed the Governor.
The procurement of vehicles at the cost of 3.6bn awarded toa company in which the incumbent Governor owns 20% stake, it’s obviously awrong doing that contravenes the Section 19 of the corrupt practices and otherrelated offences Act, 2000 and also in Section 5 of the CCBT Act respectively.
It appears that the committee is attempting to carry out asmear campaign against the former Governor as a diversionary tactics so as tounduly influence their mismanagement.
The Committee alleged the 1 trillion is looted by the formerGovernor.
The statutory allocations to the state between May 2015 toMay 2019 is N321,460,759,880,34, 75% went to Recurrent and capital expenditurewhile other expenditures weights the remaining 25%.
It also alleged that the family of former Governor cartedaway items (Pasta Making Machine, 115, Sewing machine 10, carton of surgicalhand gloves and several office furnitures) belonging to state. The items areremnants from what B-SWEEP distributed to the women of Bauchi state and theywere donations from various individuals and organisations both locally and internationally.
B-SWEEP is a Non-govermental Organisation (NGO) initiatedand established 5 years ago aimed at enhancing the well being of women,vulnerables and less privileged.
B-SWEEP Main Areas of intervention
1. Empowerment
2. Health
3. Reintegration of Women
4. Girls Education
From the establishment of B-SWEEP activities have done quitea lot in the areas mentioned above. The NGO empowered women, trained women ingrains processing, provided women with grinding machines and startup capital.B-SWEEP have also trained women how to do hand woven doormats, aluminum andleather works, pasta making, sewing, baking and lots more. At the end of everyprogramme, the NGO kitted them with relevant materials.
To say the least, B-SWEEP have done quite a lot. The itemsbelong to BSWEEP and not Haj. Hadiza M Abubakar or Govt.
The items were in B-SWEEP Rented Office. They weremoved out along with other belongings of the NGO preparatory to releasingthe property back to the owner.
An inventory was done and documented and signedby the Tech team of Bsweep .The items were taken to the house( for lack of analternative accomodation). B-SWEEP didnt operate as “Governor’s Wife petproject”.
3. The Committee Recovered 4 tractors, a luxury bus and a house.
The 4 tractors were own legally with supporting documentsattached. The house was bought years with purchase documents from LateDan Biram’s family before becoming a Governor. There was an attempt to seize thehouse by Mallam Isa Yuguda when he was a Governor.
It’s clearly the committee did a raid to Former Governor andthe NGO.
The allegations are malicious and meant to detriment thefamily, since the committee claimed the items were carted away. It’s totally alie put out by the committee.
The integrity and reputation of the committee isquestionable as the chairman is facing charges by ICPC while he served as aSenator. With this alone, puts a big question marks on his integrity and thatof the committee.
I must categorically state that M. A ABUBAKAR has at no time abused his office as Chief executive officer of the state. As a Lawyer who knows and respect law and order did not partake nor connived with in any breach of mentioned allegations by the committee.
