Former state officials are embroiled in a heated dispute over the alleged disappearance of 13 billion naira. The controversy, which dates back to the 2007 transition of power, has resurfaced with new allegations and denials, leaving citizens questioning the management of state funds during a critical period in Sokoto’s history.
On a sweltering Wednesday afternoon in Sokoto, former Governor Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa stood before a crowd at his residence, his voice firm as he reiterated a claim that has haunted Sokoto politics for nearly two decades. I left 13 billion naira cash to my successor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wammako, on 29th May 2007 after I left office,” Bafarawa declared, his words igniting a firestorm of controversy.
The statement, made during the inauguration of a 1 billion naira endowment fund, was not merely a boast about fiscal responsibility. It was a challenge – a gauntlet thrown down in a long-running dispute over the financial legacy of Bafarawa’s administration. The response from Bafarawa’s successors was swift and unequivocal. In a packed press conference held the very next day, Alhaji Aminu Dodo Iyan Sokoto, the former Accountant General under Governor Wammako’s administration, stood before a sea of journalists, his demeanor serious as he addressed the contentious claim.
The claims made by former Governor Bafarawa are baseless, mischievous, and unfounded,” Iyan Sokoto asserted, his voice tinged with frustration. Despite several efforts, the administration could not lay its hands on the whereabouts of the alleged 13 billion naira claim left by the former Governor.
The former Accountant General’s words painted a picture not of financial abundance, but of a state government struggling to uncover the truth about its own finances.
As the dispute intensified, it drew the attention of federal authorities. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria’s premier anti-corruption agency, launched an investigation to unravel the mystery of the missing billions.
“When Bafarawa made the claim in 2007, the EFCC waded in and commenced investigation to ascertain the veracity of the claim,” Iyan Sokoto explained. They later discovered that there was no substance to the claim, as there was nothing in any of the state government accounts at that time.”
The EFCC’s involvement added a new layer of complexity to the case. According to Iyan Sokoto, the commission filed 147 count charges against the previous administration, including allegations of corruption, illegal sales of government shares, misappropriation, and criminal breach of trust.
In parallel with the EFCC’s efforts, the Sokoto state government launched its own investigation. A panel, chaired by Alhaji Namadina Abdulrahman, was tasked with tracing the elusive 13 billion naira.
“The panel could not trace the money anywhere among the contingent, subsidiary, or principal bank accounts held by Sokoto state government as of 29th May 2007,” Iyan Sokoto revealed, his words underscoring the depth of the financial mystery.
Instead of billions, the investigation uncovered a far more modest sum. Only two hundred and fifty-four million Naira was declared as credit balance in the consolidated revenue account of the government as at 29th May 2007, as recorded by the banks,” the former Accountant General stated.
As officials trade accusations, the impact of this financial uncertainty on Sokoto’s citizens cannot be overlooked. Malam Ibrahim Yusuf, a civil servant in Sokoto city, expressed the frustration felt by many: “We hear about billions of naira, but our schools lack basic facilities, and our hospitals are understaffed. Where did all this money go?”
The dispute has also eroded public trust in government institutions. Aisha Mukhtar, a market vendor in Sokoto’s central market, voiced a common sentiment: “How can we trust our leaders when they can’t even agree on how much money was in the state’s coffers? It’s disheartening.”
Beyond the financial discrepancies, Iyan Sokoto painted a picture of a state burdened by incomplete initiatives. The former administration of his successor, Aliyu Magatakarda Wammako, had inherited nothing but a number of unfinished projects,” he stated, highlighting the challenges faced by the incoming government in 2007.
This claim adds another dimension to the dispute, suggesting that regardless of the financial situation, the state was left with significant work to be done and promises to fulfill.
The Sokoto dispute is more than a local political squabble; it highlights broader issues of financial transparency and accountability in Nigerian governance. Dr. Amina Salihu, a political analyst at the Centre for Democracy and Development, sees the controversy as symptomatic of deeper problems.
This case underscores the urgent need for robust financial management systems and transparent transition processes in our states,” Dr. Salihu commented. “Without these, we’ll continue to see accusations and counter-accusations that ultimately undermine public trust in government.”
As Sokoto grapples with this financial enigma, the quest for truth remains ongoing. The disparity between Bafarawa’s claims and the findings of subsequent investigations leaves many questions unanswered.
For now, the 13 billion naira remains a phantom sum, its existence affirmed by one former governor and denied by his successors. As investigations continue and debates rage on, the people of Sokoto are left to wonder about the true state of their finances during a crucial period in their state’s history.
The controversy serves as a stark reminder of the importance of financial transparency in governance and the lasting impact that disputes over public funds can have on a state’s political landscape and its citizens’ trust in their leaders.
