Masari, Shema feud widens as probe deepens
The recent arraignment of a former Katsina State governor, Ibrahim Shema, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the state High Court has further widened the political divide in the state.
Since losing power to the APC in the 2015 general elections, the PDP became ‘silent’ not until the recent arraignment.
During each court day, both parties mobilised supporters from all the 34 local governments, putting security operatives on high alert in case of a breakdown of peace and order. On one of such days, the police used tear gas to disperse supporters who tried to cause some disorder at adjourning roads to the court.
On February 7, after a court sitting, Shema was blocked from leaving the court premises by some EFCC operatives, an action that heightened tension and worsened relations with his successor, Governor Masari. Shema was said to have infuriated the EFCC officials with some comments, that they were doing the biddings of Masari, an allegation that could not be independently verified by
Soon after that, the Shema team issued a statement accusing Masari of involvement in a “failed attempt by security agents who were being used by Governor Aminu Bello Masari and his aides to abduct him” at the court premises, “despite the ruling of the court to maintain status quo on the bail granted Shema pending the determination of the matter before the Court”.
Shema, through his spokesman Oluwabusola Olawale, said the action had confirmed that the ongoing corruption case against him and his former aides was not about a court trial and the rule of law, but sheer personal vendetta and a wicked attempt to humiliate and harass him.
“It is on record that a few days before the sitting of the court, it was reported in the media that there was a plot by Governor Aminu Bello Masari and his aides to humiliate, denigrate and condemn Shema, which we took for granted because we never thought they could stoop so low. But the failed abduction and desperation of Governor Masari and his aides have confirmed to us that there is a sinister move to probably harm Shema,” the spokesman said.
Olawale added: “With this development, the life of former governor Shema is in danger, and if anything happens to him, the people of Katsina State, wellmeaning Nigerians and the international community should hold Governor Aminu Bello Masari responsible.”
However, in a reaction, Masari, through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Abdu Labaran, said it was a futile attempt to link Masari with the ongoing judicial trials and the attendant travails faced by the former governor, citing the altercation he had with the EFCC officials at the court premises.
“Where is the evidence linking Governor Masari or his aides with
The ongoing trials seem to have increased political activities in the state with rallies being organised by both parties to show their strength across the state. Jingles and political debates have also intensified on local radio stations
what happened to the former governor, since the allegation is merely anchored on suspicion,” he asked.
“For the avoidance of doubt”, he said, “neither the judiciary nor the security agencies take orders from Governor Masari, and on his part, the Katsina State governor does not interfere in the work of other arms or agencies of government, either at state or federal levels. In fact, Governor Masari has no need to interfere with the judiciary since he has set up a Judicial Commission of Enquiry under the chairmanship of a Federal High Court judge, Justice Mohammed Suraj, to interrogate the inexplicable disappearance of billions of Naira from the state’s treasury during preceding administration in the state”.
According to him, the former governor, more than most people, knows very well that Governor Masari is not vindictive.
“Let us make it clear that no amount of attempt at blackmail, subtle or obvious, will deter or distract Governor Masari from making good the mandate given to him voluntarily by the people of Katsina State in the most free and fair election ever conducted in the state, nay the country.”
He advised Shema to be man enough to bear his cross without trying to drag Governor Masari into the cesspit of the judicial travails he willfully got himself entangled in, adding that and if the former governor was seriously desirous of locating the source of his adversities, all he needs to do is to look at the mirror and get his answer.
Shema’s trouble with the Masari administration dates back to the electioneering period, especially during the hand-over, with the APC transition committee raising an alarm of not being able to account for N42bn from the past government.
Perhaps, disturbed by the alarming figure and after settling down in office, the APC administration was believed to have come across several financial inconsistencies allegedly perpetuated by the Shema administration. This led to the setting up of several committees that looked into the activities of some government departments and agencies believed to have been used to defraud the state.
The ongoing trials seem to have increased political activities in the state with rallies being organised by both parties to show their strength across the state. Jingles and political debates have also intensified on local radio stations.
The EFCC has arraigned Shema alongside three others on a 22-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and conspiracy to defraud the state. A copy of the charges obtained showed that the first charge was that the former governor and the three other persons were charged of conspiracy to defraud the state while the second to the eight charge alleged that they converted over N10b to personal use under various spurious projects including falsely claiming that the money was used for security in the 34 local government areas.
On the 9th to 11th charges, a former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Sani Makana, a former permanent secretary in the ministry, Lawal Safana and a former ALGON state chairman, Lawal Dankaba, were accused of using Shema’s memo on a meeting with the then council chairmen for their selfish interests while on 12th to 22nd charges, only the state former ALGON chairman, Lawal Dankaba, was charged with forgery of vouchers.
Though Shema and the others are on bail, the state’s commission of enquiry is yet to conclude its investigation which many believe will further uncover the alleged financial misdeeds.