N10bn fraud: EFCC, ICPC yet to probe Aliero, 11 yrs after
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) are yet to investigate former Kebbi State Governor Adamu Aliero over alleged N10.2 billion fraud, 10 years after he left office.
Aliero (APC, Kebbi) is the Senate Committee Chairman on Aviation. He served as Kebbi governor between May 1999 and May 2007, and later Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under President Umaru Yar’adua.
The EFCC and ICPC had between December 2006 and August 2008, received three petitions asking them to investigate Aliero over N10.2 billion alleged fraud.
The petition was written by Alhaji Abubakar Kane, Alhaji Sani Dododo, and Alhaji Shuaibu Y. Mungadi, all from Kebbi State.
On July 30, 2008, Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja summoned the ICPC and EFCC to explain why they failed in their statutory duties to investigate Aliero for alleged fraud.
The court summons followed an ex-parte application by Alhaji Dododo for an order of mandamus compelling EFCC and ICPC to investigate the allegations. Justice Bello also summoned Aliero to appear before the court.
On August 20, 2009, the Kebbi State House of Assembly issued a 45-day ultimatum to Aliero to prepare a complete handingover document and submit it in person to the legislature.
The lawmakers resolved to invite Aliero after an emergency sitting on Thursday following the adoption of the Ahmad Danjuma Kadanho-led 9-man Public Accounts Committee that investigated liabilities left by the past administration in the state.
But the former governor didn’t honour the lawmakers’ request to appear before them. This led the then Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Aminu Musa Habibu Jega to report Aliero to the then President Umaru Musa Yar’adua in a letter dated October 13, 2009, with reference No: KBHA/ LEG1001/Vol.X/36.
In the letter, the speaker told the late president that the investigations were in public interest because it bothered on the finances of the Kebbi State.
After EFCC and ICPC failed to act over the case, the state government under Governor Saidu Dakingari engaged the service of Abubakar Malami, SAN, to prefer a 30-count charge against Aliero and eight others over allegations of fraud.
The application for leave to prefer a charge under section 185 (b) of the criminal procedure code was filed at the High Court of Justice in Birnin Kebbi in 2010 by Bagudu U. Abubakar (ADPP) on behalf of the attorney general and commissioner for justice in the state.
Findings by this newspaper showed that the case couldn’t continue. Then EFCC boss, Farida Waziri, did not prosecute the case. Attempt to rekindle the case by the Ibrahim Lamurdeled EFCC was also not possible.
On June 11, 2015, a reminder was written to the ICPC by the 19th Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Al-Mustapha Haruna Jokolo, urging them to prosecute the former governor over the fraud allegations. I can’t confirm anything now authoritatively because the acting chairman is out of the country.”
She said the reporter should stand down the story until the chairman returns. “You have to be careful of how you go about with this story,” the ICPC spokesperson said.
When our reporter contacted the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwajuren on Tuesday, he sent a text message saying he was on leave. When he was briefed on the matter, he sent the number of his colleague, the head of enlightenment and reorientation of the commission, Samin Amaddin.
Our reporter called Amaddin on Wednesday and briefed him. He said the reporter should give him some hours to get an update on the case. Hours later, our reporter tried calling him for the update, but the calls didn’t connect. Up to the time we went to press yesterday, Mr Amaddin didn’t respond to an email sent to him by our reporter over the case.
In Birnin Kebbi, attempts to speak to the state Commissioner for Justice, Rakiya Tanko Ayuba was not successful. Our reporter was told in her office that she was out of the country.