How EFCC Visit Caused Scare In Borno
Members of the Borno state House of assembly may be under pressures to initiate moves for the impeachment of Governor Kashim Shettima, reminiscent of the late Diepriye Alamieyeseigha saga in Bayelsa state, to pave way for his investigation and prosecution over the alleged mismanagement of the state resources, and alleged hobnobbing with Boko Haram elements.
Sources revealed that, last week’s scare caused by the reported visit of EFCC officials to Borno state may not be unconnected with such moves being made to get the Borno lawmakers, who have been virtually pocketed by the governor, to sign an impeachment notice, as a way of getting the Governor out of the way.
We learnt that an alliance of top Borno stakeholders have concluded plans to facilitate Governor Shettima’s impeachment, as a way of removing the immunity under which he hides and bring him to book for the squander of over N600 Billion that accrued to the State Government and the 28 Local Government Areas.
Going by the online reactions to last week’s reported visit to Borno state by ati graft operatives, it is immaterial whether it happened exactly the way it was reported last week or not, but the fact remains that there is a general growing dissatisfaction with the manner the resources of the state are being plundered.
Governor Kashim Shettima’s hurried return to Abuja, barely after twelve hours of his return to the state after a three weeks sojourn in Abuja, may not be unconnected with the rumours making the rounds, that, the issues with the state House of Assembly may not be unconnected with the rumoured moves to remove him.
Our correspondent reports that there has been no love lost
between President Muhammadu Buhari and the Governor following the failure of the Borno helmsman to give convincing account of the management of the finances of the state and his alleged involvement with boko Haram elements.
While Governor Shettima runs from pillar to pole trying to secure the support of fellow governors and the APC national leader, Bola Ahmed tinubu, reports reaching us indicate that there is palpable scare amongst top Borno state Government officials, including members of the Borno state House of Assembly, who in one way or the other may have soiled their hands in corrupt activity over the past four years.
Investigations reveal that, with all the denials last week that members of the Assembly did not flee from the complex following reports of the advent of EFCC operatives, our correspondent reports that most top Government officials have fled Maiduguri, with the governor leaving as hurriedly as he returned to Maiduguri the previous day, ostensibly to continue his search for a soft landing with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Sources told our correspondent that the Governor has remained highly rattled by reports Last week that EFCC officials were in the state to investigate allegations of financial impropriety, running to the tune of N6oo Billion, even as members of the Assembly behind whom he hides to commit some of the offences, were themselves reported to be on the run.
As it is, Government work is at a virtual standstill due to the absence of most top officials, and the general paucity of funds that have been affecting ministries. Reports indicate that ministries are being owed three years arrears of overhead cost, while all capital projects have been abandoned for lack of funds.
There were rumours in Maiduguri on Sunday that the Accountant general of the state, along with eight serving and former commissioners have again been summoned to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, in continuation of an ongoing investigation into alleged corrupt conducts, for which unless the governor is put out of the way, getting to the roots of the matter may prove difficult.
nationalTRAIL invites readers to go through the online reactions to the reported probe of Borno Government officials to be able to gauge the mood of people in the state.
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