Former Sokoto State Accountant General Aminu Abdullahi has refuted former Governor Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa’s assertion that N13 billion was left behind in 2007.
During his remarks at the Bafarawa Foundation’s inauguration on Wednesday, Bafarawa brought up the subject once more and announced the allocation of N1 billion to aid the State’s impoverished citizens.
The former governor asked for pardon, acknowledging that during his term, he might have done actions that were against the public interest by commission or omission.
However, Bafarawa’s allegation was characterized by Abdullahi as being both cheeky and part of a plot to undermine the Sokoto people’s intelligence.
He emphasized that his goal was to inflame emotions in order to achieve quick political benefits.
According to Abdullahi, Aliyu Wamakko, Bafarawa’s successor, did not inherit N13 billion; rather, he inherited only unfinished projects. Abdullahi also pointed out that the projects left by Bafarawa were riddled with corruption and mismanagement, which contributed to the state’s financial difficulties. He urged the public to focus on supporting Wamakko in his efforts to clean up the mess left behind and move Sokoto State forward.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which was monitoring the case, was informed by the former AG that he was facing 147 counts of charges related to corruption, unlawful sales of government shares, misappropriation, criminal breach of trust, receiving stolen property, and unauthorised payments made between 2003 and 2007.
Abdullahi stated that the State Government formed an investigation team headed by Alhaji Namadina Abdulrahman to find out where the N13 billion was parked, but nothing was discovered. “The agency even confiscated some of his assets in 2010,” Abdullahi added.
The firmer Accountant General clarified, “Instead, we worked to improve the lot of the people of Sokoto state leaving behind legacies that are still visible across the State.
