Indications from Abuja suggest that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun an investigation into allegations of financial malfeasance leveled by Plateau State Government against the administration of a former governor, Jonah Jang.

The petition to the EFCC was signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Rufus D. Bature.

But Senator Jang’s legislative aide to, Olivia Dazyam, who was in Port Harcourt with him for the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) convention, said that she was surprised because they have not received any petition whether from EFCC or the government of Plateau State “to the extent of probing the former governor.”

While speaking with newsmen yesterday, Dazyam said she would contact the senator and “necessary and appropriate” actions would be taken.

The key allegations raised by the Plateau State Government in the petition to the EFCC are as follow:

*That the sum of N2 billion released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the Small and Medium Scale (SME) businesses in Plateau State remains unaccounted for.

*That a total sum of N6.1 billion was deducted from the accounts of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and the Ministry for Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs without recourse to the ethics of public service.

* That the sum of N982, 526451.02 was paid as consultancy fee to a front company for a purported, non-existent recovery of N7.56 billion from Nasarawa State.

* That millions of naira was debited monthly from the accounts of the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) to be used to construct one 5km road in each of the councils. “But most of the roads were never constructed. Just a few LGAs in Jang’s Plateau North Senatorial District benefited from this scheme but the funds disappeared from the state accounts before the emergence of the new administration of Simon Lalong.”

* Questions were also raised on how SURE-P funds were disbursed. Saying “the previous administration in their handover notes, did not provide the needed information on how much was released, how much was received and what the funds were used for.”

*Also being investigated is the “double award of the computerization of the Ministry of Finance to a company for the sum of N97,925,000. Saying the “firm is a front company, and that the contract was awarded twice (with money paid in both instances”.

ViewPointNigeria is already making contact with key principals of the Jang administration to get their response to the above allegations.

count | 778

Anti-graft commission starts investigating PLSG’s allegations against Jang