 to extend its investigation into alleged financial misconduct within Bauchi State.){kind=link}
Bauchi Citizens for Good Governance, a local political and transparency group, has called for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to extend its investigation into alleged financial misconduct within Bauchi State.
The group also urged that it should cover the state’s ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
In a statement released on Tuesday, Comrade Musa Ali, the group’s convener, expressed support for the ongoing probe but emphasized that it should go beyond the Accountant General’s office.
He pointed out the alarming fact that while retirees in Bauchi State are yet to receive their pensions and gratuities, some individuals are reportedly misappropriating state funds.
Ali called on the residents of Bauchi to unite against these actions, stressing the importance of recovering stolen funds and holding the wrongdoers accountable.
Ali further remarked that the group was not surprised by the corruption allegations surrounding Governor Bala Mohammed’s administration.
He drew attention to the governor’s presidential aspirations for 2027, questioning how the costs of such an ambitious campaign were being funded. “Bauchi taxpayers’ money should not be used to finance the governor’s presidential project,” he stated, referring to the governor’s extensive campaign posters displayed in Bauchi and other cities across Nigeria.
The statement specifically requested that the EFCC widen its investigation to include all MDAs, with particular scrutiny on the Ministry of Finance, the 20 local government areas, and several state ministries such as Housing, Environment, and Works.
It also asked that the probe extend to firms involved in the construction of the Bauchi Government House, including Habib Construction Company and K.K Kingdom Construction Company, as well as loans the state government acquired for infrastructure projects.
“We demand that the EFCC holds accountable all individuals involved in the mismanagement of state resources and ensures that recovered funds are returned to Bauchi State,” the statement concluded.
The group also urged Governor Bala Mohammed to publicly address the growing corruption allegations and take the necessary steps to prevent further financial mismanagement within the state government.
In a related development, the EFCC recently arrested Bauchi’s Accountant General, Sirajo Jaja, in connection with a reported N70 billion fraud. Jaja was detained along with a Bureau De Change operator and a PoS operator as part of an investigation into money laundering, fund misappropriation, and diversion.
In response, the Bauchi State government, through Mukhtar Gidado, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Bala Mohammed, confirmed the arrest but defended Jaja, insisting that he was not involved in the alleged fraudulent activities.
Gidado also stated that the Bauchi State Anti-Corruption Agency, led by DIG Sani Mohammed (rtd.), was actively investigating the case.
He called for fairness and due process, assuring that no state official would be unjustly treated.