Group wants IGP to investigate alleged N13bn fraud in NEDC

From Molly Kilete, Abuja

Concerned Citizens of the North East has called on the Inspector-General of Police Olukayode Egbetokun, to carry a thorough investigation into the alleged embezzlement of N13 billion in the office of the North East Development Commission (NEDC).

The group in a petition addressed to the IGP entitled: “Petition Against Some Malicious Libelous Publication by one Pastor Dr. Sani Abdullahi and Reverend Kallamu Musa Ali Dikwa Against the Vice President Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria and the Managing Director Of The North East Development Commission, said the allegations if not investigated could ignite political instability in the country.

The group in the petition signed by Barrister Peter A. Aki, who described the publication as malicious, libel and criminal defamation against the two public officers, called on the petitioners to produce evidence of facts to verify their claim.

The petition dated June 4, 2024, which was received by the IGPs 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.

Dikwa had at a media briefing in Abuja, alleged that there was a N13billion contract scandal involving the Managing Director of North East Development Commission (NEDC), Goni Mohammed Alkali, and the Vice President, Kashim Shettima.

Briefing journalists after a scheduled meeting with police investigators at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja, spokesperson of the group, Engr. Awwal Wakili, called on the police to investigate the allegations which he described as not just false, malicious, and destructive, but aimed at maligning Vice President Shettima, and exposing him and his family to ridicule.

Wakili, while nothing that the Bureau for Public Procurement Act had regulated the award of contracts while only the Federal Executive Council has the power to sanction payment for contracts that are above the limit approved for the North East Development Commission as stipulated under the relevant laws, said it was not practically possible under whatever guise, for the Managing Director of the North East Development Commission to unilaterally remove the huge sum of N13 billion for the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for personal gain as alleged.