Group Petitions IGP, Seeks Investigation Into N13bn Embezzlement Allegation

The Concerned Citizens of the North East has petitioned the inspector-general of police, IGP Olukayode Egbetokun, calling for thorough investigation into an allegation of embezzlement of N13 billion in the office of the North East Development Commission.

The group, which regretted the damaging impact of the flood ravaging Borno State, also noted that they want the people who made the allegations to come to the police and prove their cases, as such weighty claims can not be ignored. Hence, they went to the force headquarters.

Briefing journalists yesterday after a scheduled meeting with the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja, the spokesperson of the group, Engr. Awwal Wakili said they want the police to thoroughly look into the cases and the allegations made by the two men.

According to the group, the publication is not only false, malicious, and destructive but deliberately meant to malign VP Shettima, expose him and his family to ridicule, and needlessly incite public hatred against his person and his family.

They explained that the Bureau for Public Procurement Act has regulated the award of contracts and further that only the FederaAl Executive Council has the power to sanction any payment for contracts that are above the limit approved for the North East Development Commission as stipulated under the relevant laws and therefore, it is not practically possible under whatever guise, for the managing director of the North East Development Commission to unilaterally remove, from the commission’s funds, the sum of N13 billion for the vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for personal gain as alleged.

In the petition tagged: “Petition Against Some Malicious Libelous Publication by one Pastor Dr Sani Abdullahi and Reverend Kallamu Musa Ali Dikwa against the person of the Vice President Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria and the Managing Director Of The North East Development Commission Designed To Ignite Political Instability Across The Nation.”

The group said the people who made such allegations should produce evidence of facts verifying their claims.

Recall that Abdullahi and Dikwa had in a press briefing in June 2024 in Abuja, alleged a N13billion contract scandal involving the managing director of North East Development Commission (NEDC), Goni Mohammed Alkali and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

According to the copy of the petition, which was signed on behalf of the concerned citizens by a legal practitioner, Barrister Peter A. Aki, the publications were malicious, libellous and criminal defamation against the two public officers to ignite political instability.

Dated June 4, 2024, the petition received by the IGP office on June 10, 2024, had the signature of the counsel and representatives of concerned citizens group that represented the six states in the region.

The signatories included the lawyer Barrister Peter A. Aki, representatives of North East citizens from each state among them Barrister Atiku Isma’ila Gombe State, Alhaji Lawan Abdullahi Bauchi State, Mallam Murtala S. Danejo Taraba State, Aliyu Mohammed Yobe State, Engr. Awwal Hayatu Wakili Adamawa State and Abubakar Hussaini Borno State.