The All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that the Taraba State House of Assembly members collected over N1.5 billion from the state governor before approving the N350 billion bond requested by Governor Agbu Kefas.
Governor Agbu Kefas sent a letter to the State House of Assembly on March 24, 2025, requesting the members’ approval to source a bond from the stock market for N350bn to fund infrastructural projects in the state.
The publicity secretary of APC National Youths Vanguard, Mr Riquense Muri, told LEADERSHIP that he reliably gathered that each of the 24 members of the State Assembly was given N50m to N80m before the bond request was approved.
During the interview with our correspondent, Muri also alleged that Governor Kefas used the names of Taraba State local government councils to acquire a bank loan of N50bn through the Taraba State/local government joint account.
Muri lamented that despite the N50bn loan, the governor has not commissioned any project related to it, which he collected over a year ago.
“The Taraba State House of Assembly is more of a puppet. The state House of Assembly members are all in the governor’s hands. Before the governor sent the bond request to the Assembly, he gave them N50m and N80m each.
“The governor is smart. Before the request reached the assembly, he settled the members to ensure that the process was smooth. He also settled the traditional rulers and local government chairmen. I reliably gathered that each local government council chairman got N100m for projects.”
On the N50bn loan, Muri said the governor collected the money and embarked on the construction of a truck park, indoor and outdoor sporting complex, Jalingo ultra-modern abattoir, and remodelling of the palliative market. He regretted that none of the projects had been commissioned for over a year.
“The N50bn loan has already been taken. Even if the direct transfer of funds starts going to local government coffers, according to LGA autonomy the chairmen will still pay through their noses. They have already signed the document, which is binding on them.”
When contacted, Mr Sunday Osy, the director of information at Taraba State Bureau for Local Government and Traditional Affairs, said he was unaware of the development.
“My boss, the permanent secretary, is not on seat. He has travelled out of the country. Until he comes back, I can verify from him on my own. I am not aware of such a development.”
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Taraba State House of Assembly Committee on Information, Hon. Nelson Len, did not respond to our correspondent’s phone calls to clear the air on allegations of N50m to N80m inducement allegations against the members.
Len also did not reply to texts or WhatsApp messages sent to him at the time of filing the report.
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