Popular Senator Dino Melaiye, Muhammed Ibrahim Idris, Late Buba Jibril and others have been fingered to have been involved in infractions, misappropriation and diversion of funds meant for constituency development. This was contained in the preliminary report submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by the Coalition of CSOs Against Corruption.
The report has it that the sum of twenty four billion Naira(#24b) has so far been approved, budgeted and paid for various constituency projects between 2007 and 2019 but unfortunately the reality on ground does not reflect visible presence of such humongous sum. The group maintained that there is on paper Aiyetoro Gbede Stadium, Kabba Township Hall and several other projects that are not physically available in the aforementioned locations. This suggests that there is need for a comprehensive probe in order to ascertain where the projects are, which contractors are handling them and status of such projects and if they do not exist, the probe will help ascertain where the money have been diverted to.
The group also mentioned the non existence of projects meant for Ankpa, Omala and Olamaboro Federal constituency in 2014, the group traced the sum of 100 million of the constituency project to Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (SMEDAN) without any projects to show for it.
The report also note the none existence of constituency project for 2013 and 2014 for Lokoja /Koto Federal constituency during the tenure of late Hon Buba Jubril.
While receiving the petition, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission assured the group that the commission will look into it and commence investigation immediately.
Meanwhile President Muhammadu Buhari has given a matching order to the anti graft agency to begin a comprehensive investigation and thorough probe of the constituency projects execution. The president while giving the order specifically mentioned few states to begin the probe with Kogi among such states.
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