Some indigenes of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) inconjuction with a non governmental organisation, under the auspices of Civil Society for Human Right and Rehabilitation (CSHR) have dragged the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Abdullahi Candido, to the Economic Finacial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged misappropriation of funds.
Addressing a news conference Thursday in Abuja, the spokesperson of the NGO, Yunusa Yusuf, said his organisation was worried that the lack of financial prudence by the current leadership of AMAC area council has affected developmental projects in the area.
“The amount of money accrued to AMAC as an institution is more than states like Niger and Jigawa. Also, allegation of siding with revenue generators and asking them to keep 80% and pay the area council 20% is worrisome. We also know that his (candido) wife’s company is in charge of contract in the council.
“We want him to stand and defend himself. The indigenes have already petitioned EFCC and the Area Council legislature which has summoned the chairman to appear by 2 o’clock on Thursday (yesterday) to free himself.
“He should explain what he has done with the revenue. We want to know why the revenue meant for the development of the people found its way into private pockets.
“We want the fight against corruption in AMAC to continue. We want the leadership to be accountable to the people.
Therefore, the AMAC chairman should come out and explain himself to the people instead sponsoring some faceless groups,” Yusuf said
In a petition received by the EFCC dated 27th January 2020, a copy made available to newsmen on Thursday, the NGO said.
“We the Civil Society For Human Rights and Rehabilitation, a Non Governmental Organization with the aim to ensure good governance in Nigeria, duly incorporated in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with interest on good governance, accountability and protection and defence of human rights and abuse of office. it is on the basis of this our organization is making this petition against the Honorable Chairman of AMAC who in the discharge of his official duties and in disregard of the relevant Appropriation Act, Procurement Act and other laws committed the several infractions as detailed below:
“It must be noted that these infractions are targeted at creating an opaque financial regime that is unaccountable and unregulated as demonstrated.”
The anti-corruption organisation also accused the council boss of failure to furnish periodic reports as stipulated by the law, “Contrary to clear provisions of the Appropriation Act Hon. Abdullahi Adamu Candida the council chairman has consistently and continuously failed.”
Reacting, the AMAC chairman, Candido recently denied the allegations.
Hon. Candido berated the NGO for not been in possession of facts and figures, while describing their efforts a futile voyage into oblivion.
Candido revealed that while some of the projects embarked upon by his administration have attained 100 percent completions and awaiting commissioning, others have advanced to 90%, 80%, 70% and some still at 60% completion stages.
“Areas the projects were awarded include the rural electrification, rural water supply schemes, road construction and rehabilitation, primary healthcare and environment, empowerment and community development, business/market development, business vision and employment generation and agriculture department.”