EFCC quizzes Bauchi council head, PDP leader for alleged fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Gombe zonal office, has quizzed a former caretaker chairman of Alkaleri local council, Bala Abdullahi and ex-chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Warji council, Bauchi State, Alhaji Sama’ila Maigwanjo over an alleged N37.730 million fraud.The commission said the money was shared to the two local councils during the 2015 general elections.

According to the EFCC, Abdullahi told operatives of the commission that he signed and collected N23.970 million for Alkaleri local council in the presence of the ex-chief of staff to the former governor of the state Mohammed Bello Gidado who signed as a witness.

The investigation by the EFCC revealed how members of the PDP in the council shared the money, with Bala Abdullahi collecting N10.66 million for three wards, Mohammed Bello Gidado got N8.050 million for his district while Abdulkadir Ibrahim’s share was N5.260 million for three wards.

Maigwanjo admitted that he signed and collected N13.760 million for Warji local council in the presence of the former member of the House of Representatives, Abdulrazaq Nuhu Zaki and the former caretaker chairman of Warji council, Adamu Yahaya who signed as a witness.

Maigwanjo also informed the EFCC that the money was disbursed to six PDP leaders in the area chaired by Abdulrazaq Nuhu Zaki while Adamu Yahaya, Alhaji Sa’idu Magaji, Isyaku M. Daraja, Alhaji Abdulhamid Sama’ila Lassi and himself were members of the committee.

The suspects told EFCC that the money was shared to them as funds for PDP’s presidential election campaign in 2015.According to the commission, all the suspects have agreed to return the money.