Skip to main content

Group petitions EFCC, alleges Taraba Gov used sister, contracts to launder N39bn

 



Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku and his administration have been accused of looting the treasury to the tune of N39billion naira.

The Taraba Integrity and Accountability Group Jalingo (TIAGJ), petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, PRNigeria reports.

The organization claimed the accounts of the Taraba Government House, in Jalingo, and the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, are channels through which billions of naira were siphoned from 2015 to 2020.

TIAGJ alleged Ishaku’s younger sister, Mrs. Gladys Kande Mamman, a member of the Taraba State Primary Board, uses pseudo companies linked to her BVN (withheld) to launder billions for the governor via hoax contracts.

The group said that no Local Government Council has been able to undertake a project worth N5million from 2015 to 2020, because the funds are centrally misappropriated.


TIAGJ said between August and September 2015, the Taraba accessed a credit facility of N2billion to finance lending to small and medium scale commercial farmers through the Taraba State Agricultural and Development and Investment Limited (TADIL).

“This fund to the best of our knowledge was diverted into private pockets of the Governor and his cronies, as no such financing of agricultural activities took place”, the petition signed by Ezekiel Lazarus Mbamo read.

It said the state received a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) bailout loan of N37,655,975,922, comprising N23,135,682,937 for the state government, and N14,520,292,985 for the 16 Local Government Areas.

Mbamo stated “without fear of contradiction” that the bailout was “largely stolen”, defeating the reason for which it was approved by federal authorities.

“Around October 2015, Taraba obtained N9,400,000,000 for offsetting of overdraft on salaries; Bureau of Local Government for salaries; Purchase of Associated vehicles for the Governor, Deputy Governor, SSG’s convoy and the State House of Assembly members; and also for PW Nigeria Limited, Gembu Road Construction.

“In November 2015, Taraba obtained yet another loan of N10billion for the purpose of agricultural and infrastructural projects in the state. This money was wildly siphoned from the coffers of the state, as there were not such infrastructural projects to justify the huge borrowing.

“Between January and February 2017, the government received refund of Excess Debt service by Paris Club to the tune of N4,202,983,799. Curiously, the Governor bypassed laid down financial tenets and singlehandedly opened a new strange account and lodged the money without the Accountant General’s involvement.”

“Again in July 2017, the government received another tranche of the Excess Crude refund of N4.2billion which it claimed was going to be utilized for construction of road, electrification project and construction and rehabilitation of PHC facility and purchase of mobile clinic.

“In August 2017, Taraba received another refund of Excess Debt Services Payment by Paris Club to the tune of N5,612,014,491. The Darius Ishaku-led administration claims the money was used for the construction of Lecheke – Pantisawa road, Wukari – Tsokundi road, payment of outstanding workers’ salaries and rehabilitation of Wukari, Gembu and Bambur General Hospitals.

“Between March and April 2018, Taraba accessed a credit facility of N1.5billion naira, which the government claimed was to finance and boost commercial agriculture. This money was also clearly diverted and taken into private possessions.”

The petition added that within the same period (March/April 2018), the Ishaku administration accessed another N5billion credit facility from a bank.

The fund was for provision of associated irrigation equipment to support dry season cultivation of soya beans and rice on an estimated 250 hectares of farmland in Karin Lamido and other locations under the Taraba Agricultural Development Program.

About N2billion naira of the loan was to enable the state establish one model cattle ranch in each of the senatorial district, Mbamo noted.

TIAGJ also wants EFCC to investigate the inflow of N28billion naira which Governor Ishaku received as offer of promissory note discounting facility being refund for the construction of Jalingo-Sunkani-Garba Chede road, Bali-Serti-Gembu road and Jalingo-kona-Lau road.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Taraba Governor Approves Cabinet Reshuffle, Redeploys Four Commissioners

Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has approved the immediate redeployment of four Commissioners serving in the State Executive Council as part of a cabinet reshuffle. The redeployment, contained in a press release dated August 26, 2026, and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Gebon Timothy Kataps, Esq., affects four ministries. Under the new arrangement, Hon. Peter George moves from the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry to the Ministry of Water Management and Aquatic Affairs, while Hon. Daniel Ishaku is redeployed from Water Management and Aquatic Affairs to the Ministry of Waste Management and Resource Innovation. Also affected are Hon. Bernard Shonzen James Kassa, who moves from the Ministry of Waste Management and Resource Innovation to the Ministry of Social Development and Human Services, and Hon. Philip Habu James, who is redeployed from the Ministry of Social Development and Human Services to the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry...
Post a Comment
Read more

Jukun militia kills five Tiv farmers, injures woman in fresh attack

In Spite of interventions by stakeholders to broker peace between the Tiv and Jukun in Benue and Taraba states, five persons have been killed in fresh attacks on Gyenku in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State. The Guardian learnt that the Jukun attacked farms to kill the victims.Confirming the incidence, Caretaker Chairman of Ukum Council, Tor-Tyokaa Iberlogo said five persons were killed on their farms, while a woman was seriously injured and is receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital. On what becomes of the peace committee set up by Benue and Taraba states governments to ensure lasting peace and security in both states, Iberlogo said members of the committee would visit him next Monday for briefing. When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benue Command, DSP Sewuese Anene, said all efforts to get details from the Ukum Council Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and the Police Area Command failed. It would be recalled that the incidence took p...
Post a Comment
Read more

Taraba Government: Curfew Relaxed by Two Hours

The fourteen hours curfew imposed by the Taraba State Government on Jalingo metropolis and surrounding villages at the wake of the fulani herdsmen evasion of some communities has been relaxed by two hours. This was contained in a press release signed by the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor, Mr. Iliya Bekyu Akweh. Accordingly, the approved timing of the curfew is now 6pm to 6am as against the initial 4pm to 6pm daily. To this end, the state government is again appealing to the security agencies in the state to ensure enforcement of the curfew. Residents of Jalingo the state’s capital and surrounding villages especially those at the areas affected by the crisis are hereby directed to ensure strict compliance.
Post a Comment
Read more