The Assets Recovery Committee set up by the Bauchi State Governor Senator Bala Mohammed has indicted two former Governors of the state and ordered them to refund N1 trillion to the state coffers.
The former governors are; Isa Yuguda and Mohammed Abubakar and their associates whom the committee accused of looting during their tenures as governors in the State.
A member of the committee, Mr. Lawal Husseini Ibrahim, who fielded questions from journalists in Bauchi on Saturday alleged that items belonging to the State Government were found in the House of former Governor Abubakar.
According to him, the committee was tipped off concerning the items in the ex-governor’s home by a whistleblower.
His words: “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 a few items, like 105 Pasta making machines, 10 sewing machines, a carton of surgical hand gloves and several office furniture belonging to the Bauchi State Government.
“The committee had earlier recovered four tractors, a luxury bus and a house belonging to the state government which Abubakar sold to himself. The house is located opposite Government House adjacent to Wikki Hotel.”
READ ALSO: Mismanagement of N2tn: Bauchi Gov. Indicts Yuguda, Abubakar
Lawal who revealed that the committee will submit its report soon, also disclosed that the committee discovered a lot of Bauchi Government properties and resources frittered away by the two former governors and their associates.
He said the committee traced over 16 different plots of lands, building and property at different locations in Kaduna State with C of O belonging to the Bauchi government while various contracts awarded by the two previous administrations, like the purchase of 500 tractors, of which 40 was delivered were investigated.
Lawal also mentioned the ecological funds, Paris Club refund and various loans taken by the former governors.
He expressed optimism that if the recommendations of the committee are implemented the two former governors and their associates will refund over one trillion naira to the state government.
Commenting on the suit filed by the two former governors challenging the activities of the committee, Lawal said the committee was handling the issue.
He said: “Yes, the former governors Abubakar and Yuguda took the committee before the Federal High Courts in Abuja and Bauchi State High Court. But the committee is responding adequately to the suits and will submit its report without hitches.”
