Bauchi gov: I’ll prosecute those who illegally acquired govt property

TRACKING____Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, yesterday said that his administration would prosecute anyone who acquired government property illegally to serve as deterrent to others.

The governor made the declaration while receiving a report from Assets and Funds Recovery Committee led by retired General Makus Koko Yake, at the Bauchi State Government House, Bauchi, yesterday.

Abdulkadir further ordered his legal department to swing into action by initiating processes for the prosecution of former governors in the state, Malam Isa Yuguda and Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, who were alleged to have looted property and assets during their tenure and any other person that was involved.

He said the Assets and Funds Recovery Committee was constituted on July 12, 2019 and was mandated to investigate assets allegedly diverted between 2007 and 2019 at the Government House, Bauchi.

While he insisted that government officials must remain accountable, he also vowed to recover and ensure the prosecution of the former governors and their officials that were indicted by the committee.

According to him, the state’s attorney-general and some members of the committee will partner and study the recommendations of the committee for full prosecution of those indicted.

Presenting the report to the governor, Acting Chairman of the committee, Markus Koko Yake, said the committee was able to unearth various scandals and diversion of government property from 19 ministries, department and agencies (MDAs) between 2007 and 2019 when Yuguda and Abubakar served as governors of the state.

He said: “As regards contracts awarded within the period under review, 19 MDAs submitted 12, 249 contract and services with a total contract sum of N97, 190,881.30 to the committee.

“While 78 contract numbers and services from six MDAs with a total contract sum of N63, 840, 92,807.15 representing over 65 per cent of the total sum by the 19 MDAs were verified and analysed.”