A political and transparency group, Bauchi Citizens for Good Governance, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to widen its ongoing investigation into alleged fraud in Bauchi State, extending it to include various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) in the state.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the group’s convener, Comrade Musa Ali, expressed support for the EFCC’s probe, highlighting that such allegations had surfaced at a time when state retirees are not receiving their gratuities and pensions.
“While some individuals are siphoning the state’s resources for personal gain, the people of Bauchi are suffering,” Ali stated. He urged citizens of the state to rally against such malpractices, stressing the importance of recovering looted funds and prosecuting those involved.
Ali pointed out that the group was not surprised by the corruption allegations against the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed, citing concerns over the governor’s apparent ambition to run for the presidency in 2027.
“Bauchi State taxpayers should not be funding his political ambitions,” the statement read, referring to the governor’s visible campaign posters seen across the state and beyond.
The group questioned the source of funding for the governor’s presidential bid, calling for transparency.
The statement also called for the EFCC to expand its investigation to include all MDAs, with particular attention to the Ministry of Finance, all 20 local governments, and several key state ministries such as Housing and Environment, Works, and the office of the Secretary to the State Government.
Also, the investigation should cover contracting firms involved in the construction of the Bauchi Government House, including Habib Construction Company and K.K Kingdom Construction Company, as well as loans taken by the state government for bridge and road construction.
“We demand that the EFCC ensure that all involved individuals are prosecuted and that the recovered funds are returned to the state,” the statement concluded.
The group also called for the governor to publicly address the corruption allegations and take decisive action to prevent further mismanagement of the state’s resources.
In related news, the EFCC recently arrested Bauchi’s Accountant General, Sirajo Jaja, over a reported N70 billion fraud. Jaja was detained alongside a Bureau De Change operator and a PoS operator in connection with money laundering, fund diversion, and misappropriation.
In response, the Bauchi State government, through the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Bala Mohammed, Mukhtar Gidado, acknowledged the EFCC’s actions but insisted that Jaja was not involved in the alleged fraud.
Gidado stated that the matter was under investigation by the Bauchi State Anti-Corruption Agency, led by DIG Sani Mohammed (rtd.), a former EFCC officer. Gidado called for fairness and due process, ensuring that no state official is treated unjustly.