By Hamidu Sabo
Katsina
For allegedly obtaining money under false pretence and fraud against the past administration of Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited the Katsina state Accountant General, Alhaji Abdullahi Kabir Remawa, for questioning.
Blueprint gathered that those invited for questioning alongside with the accountant-general included the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Alhaji Garba Sanda Mani; permanent secretary in the Ministry of works, Engr. Murtala Abubakar and Managing Director, Katsina State Road Maintenance Agency (KASROMA), Mr Jamilu Umar.
In a letter dated June 4, 2015, addressed to the secretary to the Katsina state government with Ref: No CR:3000/EFCC/ABJ/ISOS/TM.III/VOL.9/927, the EFCC requested the release of the affected officials for questioning.
The commission stated that it became imperative to investigate the matter for clarification against the officials.
The letter which was signed by one Aminudden Muhammad on behalf of the commission requested them to appear on June 17 and 18, this year, with details on all allocation made to the state from the federation account from 2011 – May 2015, including the allocation made to the 34 local government councils.
The agency also requested to obtain details on the fund releases made to KASROMA, Ministry of Works, Housing, Transport, Agriculture and Sports from 2011 to May 2015, respectively.
The Katsina officials will equally present a statutory budget of the state from 2011 – 2015 to the agency on the stated date.
The agency informed the affected officials to summit full details on all the contracts awarded in the second tenure of Governor Ibrahim Shema, yearly budget of last four years, actual funds releases to the Ministry/agency and actual expenditure from 2011 – 2015.
The EFCC said it acted in pursuant to section 38(I) of the agency (establishment ACT 2004: and Section 21 of Money Laundering Act 2011, as amended.
Our correspondent gathered that Katsina state had the highest cases with the EFCC within the last eight years of the Shema administration.
