EFCC declares ex-Gov Shema wanted

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared a former governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema wanted for allegedly embezzling state funds running into billions of naira.

The commission in a statement put out Wednesday, and signed by its head of media and publicity, Wilson Uwajuren, said “The public is hereby notified that Ibrahim Shema, a former Governor of Kastina State, is wanted by the EFCC in connection with a case of criminal conspiracy, inflation of contracts, abuse of office, diversion of funds and embezzlement, running into billions of naira.

“The former governor ignored several invitations by the commission since December 1, 2015, when he was first summoned by the agency. All efforts to locate him at his known addresses in Katsina and Abuja were futile.

Read also: Ex-Gov Shema’s aide sings, says he has evidence his boss stole billions from Sure-P

The incumbent governor of the state, Aminu Masari had severally accused Shema, his predecessor of embezzling several billions belonging to the state as governor, and threatened to drag his predecessor and some officials of his government to court to refund about N73 billion of the state’s fund they allegedly misappropriated while in office.

Shema had also denied the claims, and challenged Masari to sue him if he did anything wrong, rather than embark on what he described as media trial.

Shema, a lawyer who is married to the daughter of late President Musa Yar’Adua was governor of the state from 2007 to 2015 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

One of his aide, Nasir Ingawa, had claimed he has evidence to prove that his former boss fraudulently diverted billions of SURE-P funds for political campaign.

Ingawa, had approached Justice Muhammad Siraj-led Commission of enquiry, set up by the current administration in the state, alleging that the former governor defrauded the state of Sure-P funds running into billions of naira.
The commission was investigating the misuse of the N5.7 billion Sure-P fund that accrued to the state.

 

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