Ex-Bauchi gov, Mu’azu banned from holding political office for 10 years
From PAUL ORUDE, Sun Newspaper
Friday, November 13, 2009.

Embattled ex-governor of Bauchi State, Adamu Mu’azu who is in self-exile in Dubai and some of his former aides have been banned for 10 years from holding any political offices by the Bauchi State Government.

Besides, the former governor is to refund to the state government the sum of N1.6 billion, which he was alleged to have misappropriated during his tenure lasting from May 1999 to 2007.
The ban of Adamu Muazu and others who served in his administration, followed government acceptance of the White Paper on Justice Bitrus Sanga Commission of Inquiry, which looked into the ministries, parastatals and agencies of the state government.

Muazu’s former deputy, Abdulmalik Mahmud, however, escaped being banned but was asked to refund to the state government the sum of N74 million.
Also banned were the former 20 local government chairmen who are refund money totalling N740 million to the state government.

Banned from holding public offices were the former chairman of Warji, Uba Nana Ahmed, Katagum, Mohammed Hassan and Alhaji Aminu Garu, of Bauchi Local Government.
Also banned for 10 years from holding any public officer was Muazu’s former commissioner for finance, Haruna Alfa Ahmed. He is also to refund N2 billion to the state government.

Addressing the press after the exco meeting, the Acting Commissioner for Information, Bala Jibrin, explained that the total amount to be refunded to the state government was N18,793,496,318.10.
For contract awarded under the Ministry of Culture and Tourisms, some of the contractors who executed projects were to refund to the state government the sum of N2.362 billion. He stated that some of the contracts were either poorly done or not executed at all.
Under bridges and roads, the White Paper recommended that construction giant, Julius Berger is to refund to the state government N3.147 billion, Tractor to refund

N339 million, Moulds Nigeria Ltd to refund N25,939 million, while General Contractor is to refund N5 million.
The White Paper observed that the construction firms were used as conduit pipe to
siphon state fund as some of the contracts awarded to them were over inflated. Besides, the state government has blacklisted the affected companies as they would no longer be patronized by the state government.
For civil servants who were indicted by the Commission of Inquiry who aided politicians to defraud the state, the White Paper recommended their dismissal from

the service of the state government while they should also be prosecuted for their act.
Government directed that henceforth, the Commissioner for Local Government where some of the atrocities were committed should held responsible for all actions. Government directed that actions should follow strictly according to laid down rules.
Bala explained that already, the White Paper had been gazetted by the government and ministries had been directed to effect the implementation of the recommendations with immediate effect.