Group urges EFCC, ICPC to probe Yari over alleged N290b fraud

Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development (PAPS) has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the immediate past governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, over alleged misappropriation of N288.4 billion belonging to the state.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja by the Chairman of PAPS, Dr. Sani Shinkafi, the governor was accused of leaving the state in huge debt. He stated that order of a Federal High Court in Abuja for final forfeiture of N700m linked to Yari vindicated the group’s earlier calls for his arrest and prosecution.

The anti-graft agency claimed that Yari, using his two companies – Kayatawa Nigeria Limited and B.T. Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited – stashed the funds in two new generation banks.

Shinkafi further accused the former governor of “wanton looting and misappropriation” of the state’s resources.

Giving a breakdown of how the alleged fraud was perpetrated, Shinkafi said the Yari-led administration left liabilities from ongoing projects to the tune of over N151 billion.

“Unremitted national housing fund deductions from salaries from 2016 to 2019 stand at over N1.4 billion,” he alleged.

The group further said that out of the N2 billion approved by the Yari administration for the payment of gratuity backlog, only retired permanent secretaries were given N400,000.

“We call on the commission to investigate and prosecute the former governor over misappropriation and diversion financial recklessness of over N251 billion as alleged by the Transition Committee headed by the immediate past Deputy Governor of the Zamfara State, Ibrahim Wakkala.”