Bauchi panel accuses ex-gov Yuguda of mismanaging N200bn ecological funds

The former Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda has been indicted by the 21-man panel of the Government Assets and Property Recovery Committee, of mismanaging the sum of N200 billion during his tenure.

The committee set up by Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, on 12th July, 2019, said that the alleged funds were part of a total of N564,851,151,690.05 which accrued to Bauchi State as ecological fund between May 2007 and May 2015.

That much information was revealed by the Public Relations Officer of the committee, Alhaji Umar Ningi, at a press conference on Thursday in the state capital, Bauchi.

Ningi said; “According to the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the sum of N2, 000,000,000 was paid to the Bauchi State Government as its share of the ecological fund for the year 2013.

“Similarly, the Ecological Fund Office had, through a letter with reference no. EF/ACCT/019/1/14, and dated 18th September, 2019, confirmed that in 2014, another N500, 000,000 was paid into the Bauchi State Government’s account No. 0998552029, domiciled in FCMB, as grant for displaced persons in the state. What is outstanding is how this amount totalling N2, 500,000,000 were expended.

“A total of N564, 851,151,690 had accrued to Bauchi State between May 2007 and May 2015. Over N200, 000,000,000 of these funds was mismanaged under the administration of former Governor Isah Yuguda.”

READ ALSO: BAUCHI: 21-man committee indicts ex-gov Abubakar

The Public Relations Officer revealed that the committee also discovered that Yuguda’s administration took a loan of over N100bn within the eight years without approval from the State House of Assembly.

“Similarly, the committee discovered that a total of N881, 464,360.73 was the interest charge on the unauthorised loans.”

The claims by the committee comes after it also accused ex-governor, Muhammed Abubakar of “gross mismanagement and fraud” while he was still in power.

The committee set up by the incumbent governor of the state to probe previous administrations of former governors, alleged that Abubakar sold seven very expensive cars and a house belonging to Bauchi state government to himself at giveaway prices.

According to the committee, Abubakar did so in contravention of the Bauchi State Budget Monitoring, Price intelligence and Public Procurement Law (BMPIPP 2008).

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