How Governor, SSG, Perm Sec, others allegedly looted N189 billion in 7 years
Story from Saleh INUWA, Kano
The Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and some cronies in his administration are under intense scrutiny for looting the state’s resources to the tune of N189 billion within the last 7 years.
Tambuwal, a two-term governor of Sokoto state, drew these funds from the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) account, the Permanent secretary’s government house account and the Accountant General FAAC account within the period under investigation.
According to the document exclusively obtained by newsmen, the profile revealed that the accounts under review had cumulative inflow of N567,160 024,619.93 (Five Hundred and Sixty-Seven Billion One Hundred and Sixty Million, Twenty-Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Nineteen Naira Ninety-Three Kobo).
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Out of which N189,155.043 825.09 [One Hundred and Eighty-Nine Billion. One hundred and Fifty-five Million Forty-Three Thousand, eight Hundred and Twenty-five Nara Nine Kobo) was withdrawn in favour of government official, individual (suspected to be cashier), companies and other groups/agencies.
According to the document, “These transactions are unusual and highly suggestive of diversion of public funds for personal enrichment and money laundering purposes”.
The document further revealed that the monies were pilfered through the following accounts: Accountant General Sokoto FAAC Account number 0697434238, Access Bank, Secretary to the State Government Account number 0700669798, Access Bank, and Permanent Secretary Government House Account numbers 0700669554 Access Bank.
A breakdown of the document revealed that the three accounts received a cumulative inflow of N567.160,024,619.93 (Five Hundred and Sixty-Seven Billion. One Hundred and Sixty Million Twenty-Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Nineteen Naito, Ninety-Three Kobo}.
A total of N14,568.835,230.00 (Fourteen Billion, Five Hundred and Sixty Eight Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Five Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirty Naira was withdrawn via Cheques (Cash) in favour of the following persons: Abubakar Mohammed Barau, Abubakar Bello Gandi, Buba S. Sambo, Kabir Aminu Tafida, Shuaibu Mohammed and Permanent Secretary, Government House.
FAAC account disbursed N57,065,205.33 (Fifty Seven Million, Sixty Five Thousand, Two Hundred and Five Naira, Thirty Three Kobo) to Director of Finance (Incorporated) MoF.
FAAC account disbursed N26, 544,000.00 (Twenty Six Million, Five Hundred and Forty Four Thousand Naira) to Bilya Micro System. It can be recalled that recently, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned five government officials at the state High Court for alleged diversion of N553, 985,644. The fund was meant for the payment of retired teachers’ gratuities and pension.
Those arraigned by the commission were the Sokoto State Primary Staff Pension Board’s Secretary, Abubakar Aliyu; the Director of Finance and Supply, Hassana Moyi; the Deputy Director of Supply, Haliru Ahmad; the Accountant, Kabiru Ahmad, and the Cashier, Dahiru Muhammad Isa.