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By Correspondent in Minna
The Governor of Niger state, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has directed the state Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr Nasara Danmalan, to set up a committee to investigate allegations of financial misappropriation levelled against the chairman of Shiroro Local Government Area, Mallam Suleiman Dauda Chukuba.
The Reporters gathered that Chukuba earned suspension from the Council’s Councilors over alleged misappropriation of N100 million tenement rate from the North-South Power Shiroro Dam and another N170 million he also allegedly barrowed from one of the new generation Banks.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mrs Mary Noel Berje, disclosed the position of the state government on the crisis rocking the area in an interview with newsmen.
She said: “As a responsible and responsive government, Niger state government, under the Governor Bello-led administration, will not fold its arms and allow allegations and counter allegations of financial misappropriation create unnecessary tension in the area.
“Setting up committee to brief the state government on the true picture of things in the area is not intended to witchunt any person but to put the records straight, in line with probity and accountability posture of Niger state government.
The governor’s aide, however, stressed that the state government would not allow any form of financial misappropriation go unpunished.
According to Berge, all that the Bello administration had done was in line with its mandate of ensuring proper check, to unravel the true position of things to avoid a repeat by others.
She said that the Leader of House in the council, Alhaji Yusuf Aliyu, who presided over sitting during which eleven out of fourteen councillors voted in favour of the suspension, had earlier urged the Governor to set up a committee to investigate the allegations.
Governor Bello according to her, has also directed Chukubat to step aside from office, to allow for an unhindered access to the committee in the discharge of its assignment.
When contacted on telephone for his comments on the issue,Chukuba who received our correspondent’s call and promised to respond to the allegations, failed to do so as at the time of filing this report at about 7p.m on Friday.
