An Assets Recovery Committee set up by the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, has disclosed that two former governors of the sori, Mallam Isa Yuguda, and immediate past governor M. A. Abubakar and their associates are to refund over one trillion Naira allegedly looted during their administration in the state.
The Committee, while disclosing this in a statement made available to journalists as it winds up its activities, claimed discovery of more items allegedly belonging to the State Government from the House of the former governor, Mohammed Abubakar.
A member of the Committee, Barrister Lawal Husseini stated this on Saturday in Bauchi while answering a question from journalists on the investigation of the Committee so far.
Lawal confirmed that, as the Committee rap up its activities, it received from a whistleblower that items were being carted away and transferred outside the state by the family of former governor Abubakar.
He added that the Committee visited the House of the former governor at Fadaman Mada and was able to recover only a few items like 105 Pasta making machines, 10 sewing machines, carton of surgical hand gloves and several office furniture’s belonging to the Bauchi Government.
Furthermore, Barrister Lawal said the committee had earlier recovered four tractors, a luxury Bus and a House belonging to the state government which the former governor, Abubakar sold to himself.
He added that the Committee traced over 16 different land parcels, building and property at different locations in Kaduna State with a certificate of occupancy belonging to the Bauchi government.
He said the Committee investigated various contracts awarded by the two previous administrations like the purchase of 500 tractors of which 40 were delivered, how ecological funds, Paris club refunds and various loans were taken and details of their finding will be made available when they submit their report to the state government, he said.
He continued that the Committee traced a lot of state government property and resources frittered away by the two former governors and their associates and the committee may submit its report any moment.
Lawal expressed optimism that if the recommendations of the committee are implemented, the two former governors and their associates will refund over one trillion Naira to the state government.
When asked about the suit filed by the two former governors challenging the activities of the Committee, Lawal said, “ Yes the former two governors Abubakar and Yuguda took the Committee before the Federal High Courts in Abuja and Bauchi State High Court, but the committee is responding adequately to the suits and will submit its report without hitches by the grace of Allah.”
An effort to Speak to the two former commissioners of Information during Mallam Isa Yuguda Salisu Ahmad Barau and Umar Sade during M A Abubakar government proved abortive as Barau number was not reachable while Sade didn’t pick calls and he didn’t reply the text message sent to him at the time of filing this report.