Nation
N12bn Fraud: Ex-Gov Accuses Kwara Govt Of Political Vendetta
Former Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed, has reacted to the findings of an audit report alleging that the sum of N12 billion was stolen between 2011 and 2019.
The audit report, commissioned by the State Government, said public funds were looted from the treasury without any project to show for the funds withdrawn
Mr Ahmed, a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), was the Governor from 2011 to 2019.
“The audit also showed that N2 billion cash withdrawals, not tied to any project or official expenditure, were made within eight days in February 2019, barely one month to the general election,” Rafiu Ajakaiye, the Chief Press Secretary to the current Kwara Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, said in a statement.
Speaking during the submission of the report to the Governor, Partner at the SSAC and Professionals, Anthony Iniomoh, said the report was in two volumes covering Internally Generated Revenue; Capital Receipts; Internal and External Loans; Recurrent/Overhead Expenditure; Personnel Cost (Salaries and Wages); Capital Expenditure; Assets Disposed of; Kwara State Internal Revenue Service; Infrastructural Fund Kwara (IFK); Harmony Holdings Limited; amongst others.
But in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Wahab Oba, the former Governor said the forensic audit report was “politically motivated.”
He said all expenditures covering his two terms as Governor were appropriated with due process.
“The allegations are preposterous, naive, unspecific and generally unfounded. Every expenditure during the period under review was properly appropriated and followed due process. If there were infractions as alleged, there are laid down procedures for correction”, the statement said.
Ahmed said the release of the forensic audit report was suspicious since it was coming months to the 2023 general elections.
“Since we left office more than three years ago, the accounts have been properly audited by various auditing agencies and had been certified. Any query now, six months to the election, on the legality or otherwise of the expenditure, are an afterthought and politically motivated.
“Rather than search for what is not lost or embark on a political vendetta, this Government should account for more than N.3trillion accruing to it in the last three years without commensurate infrastructural development,” he said.
While absolving himself of any wrongdoing, Mr Ahmed accused the current All Progressive Congress (APC) government in the state of incurring “unaccounted” loans.
“The debt profile of this government is unprecedented in the history of Kwara State. As of today, Kwara State is paying not less than N1.3 Billion monthly as interest on various largely unaccounted-for loans.
“As recently confirmed by His Excellency, AbdulRaham AbdulRazak in his guided chat with his media agents, N17 billion out of N27 billion bond is ‘sitting in a bank’ while the State continues to pay interest on it. This raises a lot of questions as to the reason the bond was taken in the first place.
“The Governor should tell Kwarans when last he held a State Executive Council meeting to approve various contracts and other expenditures,” Ahmed said.
The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has called on the Management of Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC to embark on the water projects in Buguma city in Asari Toru Local Government Area, Rivers state
The Group called on the Rivers state government to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths
On the water project in Buguma, MOSIEND said the population of Buguma has increased tremendously as the residents need more water projects to enhance the daily livelihood of the people
The Group also appealed to the Chairman of the council to assist in making the project a reality and attracts more developmental projects to the city
This call was on Rhythm 93.7 FM Port Harcourt, Radio program, Talk of the Town, by MOSIEND Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn alongside Mark Ojuka,Chairman of Buguma and Hon Sandra Owunari JP Chairman Obuama and monitored by our correspondent
Comrade Ojuka also called on the Management of Liquidifed Natural Gas NLG to embark on a free medical outreach in all Kala bari communities to improve their health status
He appealed to LNG to award scholarship to indigens of Kalabari communities in tertiary institutions to better their education, noting the company is doing same in Bonny, abandoning Kalabari communities
“We need contracts, free medical, scholarships and employment including skill acquisition programs for our teeming youths in Kalabari extractions ”
On Security, Mark Ojuka said security in Buguma is at zero level with the help of the Ama Ma soldiers the city is more peaceful and investors friendly as the youths of area have cordial relationship with the security agencies in the area
“Security is very secured in Buguma clan”
He called on the Rivers state to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths
“The youths are asking for human capacity building in the area to reduce unemployment”
“The revamping of the Buguma fish farm will also reduce youth violence”
Also Speaking, Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn called for more improve in infrastructures in Kalabari community, especially in electricity
There is little improvement in terms of electricity in Buguma city
He decried the deplorable condition
of Buguma Health Centre, saying that the hospital is near functional
“Our sisters that are pregnant and our sick parents can not access the health centre for a better treatment ”
Describing the Health Centre as an eye saw, he called on Rivers state government and Buguma Local Government chairman Hon William to improve on facilities in the centre and make it more medically accessible to the sick persons in the area
Buguma, Tammy Bruce said is the spiritual headquarter of Kalabari people as such deserve more modern facilities from the government to improve lives
The Coordinator called on government, stakeholders and oil companies to assist and improve the poor infrastructural facilities in area
“We need first class hospitals, qualified medical doctors and nurses in the health centres and hospitals”
On the oil spilled in Obuoma Chairman MOSIEND Obuoma, Hon Sandra Owunari said the spill destroyed their crops and Rivers even polluted their only source of drinking water
She expressed displeasure that Rivers state government did not send any relief materials to the people in the affected community
On Chieftaincy title to women in Obuama, Hon Sandra Owunari said the community do not install Chieftaincy title to women, saying that Chieftaincy title is only reserved for men only in the community
CHINEDU WOSU
-
Business3 days agoCBN Revises Cash Withdrawal Rules January 2026, Ends Special Authorisation
-
Business4 days ago
Shippers Council Vows Commitment To Security At Nigerian Ports
-
Business4 days agoNigeria Risks Talents Exodus In Oil And Gas Sector – PENGASSAN
-
Business3 days agoFIRS Clarifies New Tax Laws, Debunks Levy Misconceptions
-
Sports3 days ago
Obagi Emerges OML 58 Football Cup Champions
-
Politics3 days agoTinubu Increases Ambassador-nominees to 65, Seeks Senate’s Confirmation
-
Business4 days ago
NCDMB, Others Task Youths On Skills Acquisition, Peace
-
Sports3 days agoFOOTBALL FANS FIESTA IN PH IS TO PROMOTE PEACE, UNITY – Oputa