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| Former Governor Ibrahim Shema |
A former governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema, has denied
diverting billions of naira of SURE-P funds, meant for developmental
projects, to electoral campaign.
Mr. Shema said the claim by his former aide, Nasiru Ingawa, before a
commission of inquiry, that the former governor used the money for
election and other personal needs, was politically motivated.
He challenged the governor of the state, Aminu Masari, to sue him if he did anything wrong, and to avoid “media trial”.
The commission is investigating the misuse of the N5.7 billion Sure-P fund that accrued to the state.
Mr. Shema said his accuser, who was his special adviser on SURE-P, should publish his proof withing 48 hours.
Mr. Ingawa had told the Justice Muhammad Siraj-led Commission of
enquiry that: “Shema used to tell me: `Nasiru, bring the money I
approved for you in a memo to my house in the night, we are going to use
it for politics”.
He also said “all purchases in the department will be made directly and in cash without going through the tenders’ board”.
He said the former governor once authorised 88 withdrawals of cash
from two banks in a single day on the eve of last day in office.
But Mr. Shema said his former loyalist was being used by the current administration to get at him.
Speaking via a statement signed and issued by his spokesman,
Oluwabusola Olawale, the embattled former governor said his accuser
should back his claims with documented evidence or risk being sued for
defamation.
The statement reads:
“Our attention has been drawn to the statement credited to former
Special Adviser to former Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema on Sure P,
Nasiru Ingawa claiming that Shema directed him to bring Sure P money to
his house for political activities. We are saying it without iota of
doubt that the statement is wicked lies and part of orchestrated
campaign of calumny against the former Governor.
“At no time during the tenure of previous administration that Shema
gave such a directive to Nasiru Ingawa as he claimed, and we challenge
him if it is true to publish his facts and supporting documents within
48hrs, failure to do so he should be ready to meet the legal team of
Ibrahim Shehu Shema in court.
“The information available at our disposal, revealed that Nasiru role
was connected to the request of his father, Alhaji, Salisu Ingawa (a
retired Director) to assist him to secure a federal government
appointment through Governor Aminu Bello Masari, the obligation Masari
agreed to fulfill on the condition that Nasiru lies against his former
boss.
A night before the testimony of Nasiru at the Commission, he was
sighted at Katsina Motel in company of Mal Rabe Nasir who is an aide to
Governor Masari and member of the Commission with Masari lawyer
perfecting their actions. Also as part of the deal, We learnt Nasiru has
been promised to be allowed to run and hide in United States of America
where he holds citizenship to evade prosecution.
“We are calling the attention of the public to what is going on at
the sitting of Commission of Inquiry set up by Governor Aminu Bello
Masari as a media trial with sole aim and purpose to tarnish the
reputation of His Excellency Ibrahim Shehu Shema who served katsina
state creditably well. We are also appealing to the public to pressurise
Governor Masari to charge Shema to court if truly he abused public
trust while in office as a Governor instead of maligning his name at the
charade called commission of inquiry.
“It is also curious that Special Adviser to Governor Masari on
Budget, Abdullahi Imam admitted at the Commission sitting on Wednesday
that Shema administration left about N4billion in the Sure P account
after several denials by Governor Aminu Bello Masari and his officials.
We know definitely truth will always prevail over falsehood”.
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