In what could be described as victory for the common man and democracy and justice to corruption, the Assets Recovery Committee set up by the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has revealed that two former Governors of Bauchi State, Mallam Isa Yuguda and Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, as well as their associates, are to refund over one trillion Naira; money allegedly looted while they served as governors of the state. READ ALSO: South African President Appoints Okonjo-Iweala
A member of the committee, Barrister Lawal Husseini Ibrahim, stated this in Bauchi on Saturday while fielding questions from pressmen on the activities of the committee.
The committee, while delivering a statement on its exercise, also claimed that more items, allegedly belonging to the State Government were discovered in the house of former Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar.
Keeping journalists abreast of the situation, Husseini stated: “As the committee was rounding up its activities it received a whistleblower 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, cartons of surgical hand gloves and several office furniture belonging to the Bauchi Government, the committee had earlier recovered four tractors, a luxury Bus and a House belonging to the state government which the former governor, Abubakar, sold to himself.
“The house is located opposite Government House adjacent to Wikki Hotel”
Barrister Husseini noted that properties, in tune of millions of Naira, were traced to the former governors and their associates, while stressing that efforts are on to recover all of the properties. He also assured that the parties involved in the alleged loot will refund over one trillion Naira if the recommendations of the committee are implemented
Entertaining additional questions from the newsmen about the suit filed by the two former governors challenging the activities of the committee, Barrister Husseini stressed: “ Yes the former governors Abubakar and Yuguda took the committee before the Federal High Court 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.”
Further revealing the properties recovered from the former first indigenes of the state, Barrister Husseini stated that over 16 different lands, building and properties at different locations in Kaduna State with certificate of occupancy belonging to the Bauchi government were recovered by the committee and they investigated various contracts awarded by the two previous administrations such as the purchase of 500 tractors where only 40 were delivered.
He added that details of their findings on how Ecological funds, Paris Club refunds and various loans were taken, will be made available when they submit their report to the government.
In the meantime, attempts to speak with the former commissioners of Information of the former governors proved abortive.
