Niger Governor Abubakar Bello revealed Friday the state’s former commissioner misappropriated hajj funds, and stole N6 billion in two tranches in the last administration.
The EFCC initially discovered N4 billion hidden in two GT Bank accounts traced to Kantigi Liman. Weeks after, some M2 billion was found again in a UBA account linked to the former commissioner of Local government.
According to the governor, the funds are believed to have been raked in through inflated hajj subsidies offered by the state government to pilgrims within the periods he (suspect) served as the Chairman of the Niger State Pilgrims’ Agency.
The governor made this known to journalists after joining President Muhammadu Buhari and hundreds of other Muslim faithful to perform the Juma’at prayer, at the Aso Rock Mosque.
Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman, said the money was discovered following a tip-off by a whistle-blower.
The governor, commending the EFCC for its efforts in recovering stolen funds, said he hoped that the recovered N6 billion would be transferred to the state’s accounts to enable his administration embark on developmental projects.
He also mentioned efforts of the EFCC towards the recovery of the misappropriated ecological funds by the previous administration in the state.
“I’m aware that the EFCC is investigating the ecological funds. At the inception of this administration we realised that the ecological funds disappeared.
“I did not have any evidence that it was utilised to address any ecological issues and we are faced with major ecological problems especially in Mokwa, Agaie, Bida, part of Minna, Rafin Gora and Mariga.
“We are doing our best to address the ecological problems. We need funds and unfortunately the N2 billion that was given to the state was not judiciously used to address the ecological challenges.
“If it had been used properly maybe our burden might have been reduced by now, but we are having sleepless nights over ecological issues and we are still approaching the Federal Government to assist us,” he added.
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