Alleged Scam: Bauchi Lawyers Fault ex-Accountant General, Sa’idu’s Arrest

…says day of reckoning is coming

By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi

Concerned Lawyers for the Cause of Bauchi (LAWBA) has described the arrest, detention and ongoing investigation of the immediate past Accountant General of the state, Abubakar Sa’idu as politically motivated persecution in the name of fight against corruption.

“The point is that as a matter of the rule of law, it doesn’t admit to selective justice or politically persecution in the name of fight against corruption”, LAWBA said.

LAWBA, at a press conference in Bauchi Friday over the arrest of the ex-Accountant General, said that the state government owe the people and explanation as to who, if any, are the persons having explanation to offer on this case.

“It also ought to explain other matters having to do with the commonwealth of Bauchi state, particularly the aspect of management, accountability and transparency” LAWBA public relations officer, Barrister Bala Hussaini told the press conference.

It could be recalled that Abubakar Sa’idu who is the permanent secretary of the State Ministry of Higher Education at the time of his arrest, was alleged to have swindled tens of billions of naira from the state coffers, consequent upon which he was arrested by operatives of the State Anti-graft Commission.

LAWBA said, “Leaders hold public offices for the people, so there should be full disclosure by the government on any matter of public interest”.

Barrister Bala Hussaini explained that from the facts and information at their disposal, the state government owe citizens a duty to explain how possible is it for only ONE person to perpetuate the alleged offences alone.

Hussaini recalled that the state citizenry are hitherto concerned about the Integrity and truth about the standing of Bauchi state when it comes to public expenditure, it’s financial standing and how just or otherwise the state resources are being managed by the incumbent administration.

“When the news broke out about Abubakar Sa’idu’s arrest, detention and so on, many people became interested and hopeful that something that will be of benefit to the state in terms of the fight against corruption will be achieved’.

The PRO therefore warned that unless the BASG retrace it’s step and listen the words of wisdom and guidance, some of which they were communicating through this medium, the whole gamut may end up as anything but a fight against corruption.

He added, “We wish to state clearly that the action so far taken by the BASG on this issue lacks legal basis, hence same is dead on arrival as a matter of law”.

“This is the legal implication of binding and subsisting judgement delivered on 20th July, 2023 by the Federal High Court, Bauchi Division presided over by Hon. Justice M.S Liman in suit No GHC/BA/CS/76/2022”.

LAWBA therefore called on the Bauchi state government to as a matter of urgency refer this case and other similar corruption related cases to the EFCC, ICPC, and other constituted agencies, observing that people have more confidence and trust in federal institutions than the state counterparts.

“In the corruption case in focus, this become more compelling, sensible and justifiable as the law that created the so-called Bauchi State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has been invalidated by the judgment in reference which is still subsisting and in full force, same having not been set aside on appeal or halted in any other legal manner”.

“It is curious that for a commission that was purportedly created in 2022, it took until few weeks ago and more than one year after the invalidation of the law creating, before it taking it’s first major action or case on corruption, and even then narrowing it down to only one public officer in the person of the immediate past Accountant General of the state”.

“At our level in LAWBA, we are taking the matter a notch higher in the interest of the state. Law, power and authority must be deployed to serve our collective good and nothing else”.

Barrister Hussaini further stated that they will cooperate properly constituted bodies like the EFCC, ICPC, and the Human Rights Commission to determine the various legal issues involve for necessary action, and they are ready to do more in ensuring that the right thing is done on the matters involved.

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