By; SUNDAY ODE, Abuja
Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State at the weekend said that the N6 billion discovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the accounts of a former public official were stolen from Niger State Government account.
The governor made this known to newsmen after joining President Muhammadu Buhari and hundreds of other Muslim faithful to perform the Juma’at prayer, at the Aso Rock Mosque.
The commission had weeks earlier traced N4 billion to two accounts in GTBank, both linked to a former Commissioner for Local Governments, Kantigi Liman before another N2 billion was ffound in his UBA axxount.
The first account belongs to Sadiq Air Travel Agency Limited and the second to Liman
Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman, said the money was discovered following a tip-off by a whistle-blower.
According to Governor Bello, the funds are believed to have been siphoned by the suspects 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, who commended the EFCC for its efforts in recovering stolen funds, expressed the hope that the recovered N6 billion would be transferred to the state’s accounts to enable his administration embark on developmental projects.
He also acknowledged the 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.
On the discovery of some deposit of Hydro-Carbon and other solid minerals in the state, the governor called for a speedy presidential intervention to hasten their exploration and exploitation.
