SAYS N60.5 B MUST BE RECOVERED
Admin l Saturday, January 07, 2017
BAUCHI, Nigeria – At least N212,218,070,196.67 were not properly accounted for under former Governor of Bauchi State, Mallam Isa Yuguda, Bauchi State Governor, Muhammed Abdullahi Abubakar has been told.
A High Powered Committee under the Chairmanship of Alhaji Salihu Lukman Abubakar set up by Governor Abubakar to investigate all major contracts awarded in the past administration made the recelation when it submitted its report to the Bauchi State Governor today.
The committee came out with the findings after looking at contracts awarded by major ministries and parastatals, including; the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Ministry for Local Government Affairs, Ministry of Education, and other MDAs in the state from 2007 to 2015.
Some of the contracts reviewed included, the Bauchi International Airport Contract, New General Hospital Toro, GGSS students hostel, construction of various road projects to mention a few. The high powered committee also beamed the light on expenditures, loans, bonds, security votes, remittances and other financial transactions made during the period under review.
The committee advised the governor to recover N66,560,830,749.04) from various contractors, consultants, government officials and banks.
In its report, the committtee noted that various irregularities were discovered in the award and execution of contracts, payment of contractors, loans obtained and other financial improprieties.
“There were also cases of negligence, corruption, and connivance to defraud the state by government officials who served in the period under review”, the committee said, adding that the total sum that was not properly accounted for N212,218,070,196.67.
Responding, Governor Abubakar thanked the committee for doing a thorough job. He wondered why the trust of the people will be squandered by those elected to improve their lives.
He stated that this was not a witch-hunt but every kobo belonging to the state, which was fritted away will be pursued with a view of recovering it.
He also mandated the Commissioner for Justice to liaise with the Attorney General of the Federation, so that the EFCC and ICPC will be involved to recover these monies. Governor Abubakar also instituted a white paper committee to look into the report, and advice government on the next steps to take. The white paper committee was given three weeks to submit its report.
