Sanusi Mohammed Isa, a former Senior Special Adviser on Special Duties to Isah Yuguda, ex-Governor of Bauchi State “with state funds” built 220 two/three bedroom flats inside 20 estates.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), traced the apartments to Isa in 2017. Not only the houses, other items recovered from the former aide include sophisticated guns, rounds of ammunition, exotic cars, designer watches, bales of brocade and air conditioners.
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ICPC believes the former aide stood in proxy for real owners of the houses that are “politically” exposed. It notes that Isa wouldn’t have built such exotic apartments with his earnings. He worked with the Bauchi Investment Corporation from October 3, 1989 to December 31, 2012, before joining the Office of the Head of Civil Service, Bauchi in December 2012 as a director on grade level 16.
The apartments and other assets seized from him are valued at N1,857,351,750. However, Isah could not have acquired such properties with his annual salary and allowance, ICPC argues.
“Isa was released for the special assignment of P.A to the then Governor of Bauchi State, Mallam Isa Yuguda on 22nd December 2008. By the directives to release him for the special assignment, he was to enjoy his salary and other entitlements of N9,122,388.45 annually from the Bauchi Investment Corporation and was entitled to an allowance of N15,000.00 monthly as a personal assistant to the former governor,” Azuka Ogugua said in a statement.
THE FORFEITURE
According to Sahara Reporters, the discovery of the seized properties and items followed a tip-off by a whistle-blower.
“About 10 days ago, we received a tip-off from a whistle-blower about the lifestyle of one Sanusi Mohammed, a former aide to former Bauchi Governor, Isa Yuguda.
“We traced 220 flats in 20 estates to him. The houses range from two-bedroom to three-bedroom flats. Inside some of the properties, we discovered four sophisticated guns with 165 rounds of ammunition, five exotic cars and 15 new air conditioners. We believe the air conditioners were donated to the Bauchi State Government by China.
“We also recovered some cash as well as 25 designer watches and 20 bales of brocade,” the platform quoted a source.
However, Isa was arrested by the ICPC and quizzed. He would later be released on administrative bail.
JUST LIKE HIS BOSS
Just the way ICPC is investigating Isa, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was also investigating his boss, Yuguda. The anti-graft commission sealed Yuguda’s multi-million naira mansion at Sir Kashim Ibrahim Street, GRA, Bauchi.
A committee set up by the then Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, was mandated to carry out a forensic audit of all major contracts awarded by the past administration from June 2007 to May 2015 in the Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board, Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Bauchi Specialist Hospitals, Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
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The committee in January 2017, asked Yuguda to account for over N212 billion expended by his administration within the period under review.
However, a Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the case in June 2022.
ISA’S TRIAL
After a series of sittings, the Bauchi State High Court on December 13, 2022, discharged and acquitted Isa on all the 36–count charges against him bordering on corruption, and ordered the release of “all his properties in the possession of the commission”.
ICPC noted that Justice Rabi T. Umar, the Chief Judge of Bauchi State and the presiding judge in the case made the ruling.
Reacting, ICPC says it will appeal the case, saying the ruling was not in consonance with the weight of evidence before the court, including its refusal to allow civil forfeiture.
