By Tayo Alabi
A group, the Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development (PAPSD) has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) asking it to invite, investigate and possibly prosecute former Governor of Zamfara State Abdulazeez Yari, his former Commissioners of Finance and Local Government Affairs for allegedly diverting over N365million from the accounts of the local government under the guise of sponsoring Ulamas to Saudi Arabia.
The group in the petition said ”we hereby wish to forward a petition to the commission to invite, investigate and possibly prosecute the unlawful deduction of the monthly statutory allocation funds and withdrawals of the sum of Three Hundred and Sixty Five Million Naira (NGN365,000,000), from the Statutory Allocation of November, 2018 to sponsor 35 Ulamas from each Local Government Area of Zamfara State to Saudi Arabia to pray for the successful exercise for the recruitment and operation of Civilian Joint Taskforce (CJTF), to fight armed banditry in Zamfara state.
“The State Governor directd the Commissioner for the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to make illegal deduction and withdrawals of Fourteen Million Naira (NGN 14,000,000), on Monthly basis from all the Fourteen Local Government Area bank account domiciled in the United Bank of Africa (UBA), Gusau Branch”.
The Executive Director of PAPSD, Dr Sani Abdulahi Shinkafi in the petition to the EFCC Chairman routed through the Sokoto Zonal office of the Commission pointed out that “All the Local Government Area Chairmen, Secretaries, Directors of Finance and Cashier duly signed a cheque leaf and submit the copy of the cheques to the Branch Manager, the Sum of one Hundred and Ninety-Six Million (N196,000,000) unlawfully deducted and withdrew in cash at the United Bank of Africa (UBA), Gusau Branch on monthly basis.
The petition said that younger brother to the former Governor Abdulazeez Yari, Abubakar Alias Danauta was allegedly used as a conduit pipe to siphoned and diverted the funds for personal enrichment.
“Going by the figures, the Sum of Two Billion Three Hundred and fifty-two Million (N2,352,000,000.00k) only were unlawfully deducted from Local Government Area Statutory Allocation Joint Account Committee (JAAC) annually at the detriment of the masses of our rural communities. Going by His Excellency approval, the sum of Two Thousand Dollar ($2000) was approved to the Ulamas as Basic Travelling Allowances (BTA) to travel to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but going through the payment schedule the record clearly revealed that the sum of One Thousand Dollar ($1000) was paid to the beneficiaries against the approval of His Excellency. If you clearly examine and scrutinized the signature signed by the beneficiaries, you will come to the conclusion that the signature of the beneficiaries was forged and signed with one pen.
Shinkafi further stated that “We implore the Commission to find out what is the official status of Kabiru Kamba for signing and collecting the Sum of Nine Hundred and Eighty Thousand Dollar ($980,000) valued at Three Hundred and Sixty-Five Million (N365,000,000) only on behalf of Zamfara State Government for onward disbursement to Ulamas as Basic Travelling Allowances (BTA).
“We hereby urge the commission to engage the service of forensic expert to authenticate the genuineness of the signatures of the beneficiaries as claimed. In view of the highlighted above, I feel that this weighty allegation should not be swept under the carpet.
“We hereby request for a detailed painstaking and in-depth-investigation to be carried out by your office to unveil those behind this cruel act.
According to the petition: “The following underlisted individuals allegedly aided the unlawful deduction and persistent withdrawals of the Local Government Statutory Allocation Funds from Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) domiciled in United Bank for Africa (UBA), Gusau Branch
1. Hon. Abdulaziz Abubakar YariFormer Governor of Zamfara state.2. Hon.Bello Dankande GamjiFormer Commissioner Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.3. Alhaji Suleiman Bala ShinkafiBranch Manager United Bank of Africa (UBA).4. Jafaru Abubakar Yari(Alias Danauta).5. Lawal Abubakar Muhammed BarmoDirector finance6. Kabiru A. Shehu7. Sulaiman Garba K.8. Dawisu Multi-Purpose (Umar Salihu Maikassu08069521357).9. Kabiru Kamba (08086000001)10. Alhaji Haruna SalauPermanent secretary Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.11. Alh. Mustapha MuhammadChairman Anka Local Government12. Abbas GaladimaSecretary Anka Local Government13. Alh. Dandare DakkoChairman Bakura Local Government14. Saminu SamailaSecretary Bakura Local Government15. Alh. Umar Muhammad Birnin MagajiChairman Birnin Magaji Local Government16. Junaidu Abdullahi AnkaSecretary Birnin Magaji Local Government17. Alh. Nasiru Zarumi MasamaChairman Bukuyyum Local Government18. Aliyu Musa DauranSecretary Bukuyyum Local Government19. Abdulaziz A. NahucheBungudu Local Government20. Ibrahim T. TukurSecretary Bungudu Local Government21. Alh. Saidu BawaChairman Gummi Local Government22. Aliyu Garba BunguduSecretary Gummi Local Government23. Alh. Lawal Isah AbdullahiKaura Namoda Local Government24. Umar Muhammad KuryaSecretary kaura Namoda Local Government25. Alh. Yahaya Shehu MaradunChairman Maradun Local Government.26. Kabiru S/AskiSecretary Maradun Local Government.27. Alh. Salisu Isah D/GulbiChairman Maru Local Government.28. Mansur AbdullahiSecretary Maru Local Government.29.Alh. Ibrahim Umar TankoChairman Gusau Local Government.30. Suleiman AshiruSecretary Gusau Local Government.31. Alh. Muhammad Sani GaladiChairman Shinkafi Local Government.32. Iliyasu GarbaSecretary Shinkafi Local Government33. Alh. Lawal MarafaChairman Talata Mafara Local Government.34. Yusuf Jibo GwashiSecretary Talata Mafara Local Government.35. Alh. Aliyu A TsafeChairman Tsafe Local Government.36. Bello zubairuSecretary Tsafe Local Government.37. Dr. Ahmad A BawaChairman Zurmi Local Government.38. Sa’adu MayanaSecretary Tsafe Local Government.39. All Directors of Finance from 14 Local GovernmentArea40. All Cashiers of 14 Local Government Area41. All 147 Electoral Ward Councilors42. 490 Ulamas as alleged in payment scheduled sheets and memo approved by the former Governor.
Shinkafi added “We hereby enclose all relevant documents for your information and further necessary actions”.
