Aide reveals how former governor allegedly spent N5.7b stolen fund on politics

– An aide of former governor Ibrahim Shema accused him of spending N5.7billion SURE-P fund on politics

– The aide, Nasir Ingawa said Shema directed him to spend the looted cash on politics

– Shema is standing trial before the court on a 26 count charge bordering on fraud

Nasir Ingawa, the special adviser to former Katsina state governor, Ibrahim Shema, claimed that he was directed by the former governor to spend N5.7 billion Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) on politics.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Shema with a 26 count charge bordering on fraud.

Igawa, while on the witness stand, told the court he was the Special Adviser to Shema on SURE-P from June, 2014 to May, 2015, The Nation reports.

He said: “I remember him (Shema) telling me that we were going to use the funds for politics and that we would extract our savings from there.

“The tradition is that I had to sit down and discuss with him on any programme; if he agreed, he would instruct me on exactly how much the savings should be from that programme.

“All money from SURE-P account were withdrawn in cash, with the exception of few programmes which the withdrawal was done with cheque.”

Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari adjourned the hearing till January 14, 2018.

TRACK NEWS earlier reported that a drama ensued at the Katsina high court venue of the trial of former governor Ibrahim Shema as Lawal Rufai, a defendant in the case, said the statement tendered as evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was obtained from him under duress.

The statement was tendered against the former governor, but Rafiu, a former permanent secretary in the ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs, who spoke through his counsel, Aliyu Ahmed, said he was forced.