Sleaze Allegations: Waiting for Governor Yari’s Response
Wonders will never cease in Nigeria. Many of those who promised us “change” are now enmeshed in corruption allegations. One of such is Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari. The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered an interim forfeiture of N500 million and $500,000, suspected to be bribe given to Yari by the consultant engaged for the Paris Club refunds by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, huge sums of money were fraudulently diverted from the bank account of the NGF on the instruction of Yari. How did the funds get into the NGF account in the first place? Very simple; fees due to the consultants engaged by the NGF to verify refunds due to all the states were paid into NGF’s account. The fees were subsequently disbursed to the specialists in a manner not transparent.
In an affidavit by the EFCC, it alleged that the N500 million was diverted to offset Yari’s personal loan obtained from the First Generation Mortgage Bank Limited. It also alleged that another firm, Gosh Projects Limited, got $500,000, which was allegedly used for the purchase of building materials for Yari’s 100-room hotel project in Lagos. Gosh Projects was also suspected to have used part of the looted funds for the purchase of treasury bills and transfers to offshore accounts.
The sums had already been recovered from the two firms, before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba gave the interim forfeiture order on June 30. I am earnestly waiting for what this Zamfara governor has to say about these sleaze allegations. He has refused to disclose his relationship with the two companies the funds were seized from by the EFCC. The two affected firms are also not protesting. So, who owns the seized money? I am shocked that all we have been hearing on this issue are humdrum explanations from the spokesman of the NGF, Abdulrazaque Barkindo. When will Yari speak up? This is clearly not the “Change” Nigerians voted for.