EFCC arrests Sokoto government officials over diversion of salary

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, has arrested
one Abubakar Maigishiri, a serving Counselor in Tureta local
government area of Sokoto State and the Director of Works and
Housing of the council, Tukur Yabo over alleged diversion of salary
of some employees of the state-owned security outfits,
Neighbourhood Initiative and Sokoto Marshall.

Arrested along with them were; a cashier in the Ministry of
Social Welfare and Community Development, Danjuma Ibrahim and
another staff of the Ministry, Sambo Abdullahi.

Parading the suspects, the Zonal Head of the agency, in charge
of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, Abdullahi Lawal, said they had
received a complaint from an employee of Neighbourhood Initiative
that their three-month salaries were not paid.

He further alleged that the suspects, who were members of their
salary payment committee, diverted the money for their personal
use.

“In the course of our investigation, we discovered that the
Director conspired with the Counselor and two others from the
Ministry of Social Welfare and shared among themselves N490,000
which was a two months salaries of 15 neighbourhood employees.

“All the suspects were however, arrested and confessed to the
offence,” he said

Lawal added that the sum of N300,000 had been recovered so far
and that they were making efforts to recover the remaining
balance.

Similarly, the agency arrested the Chief Executive Officer of
Hamga Investment Resources, Sokoto for allegedly obtaining the sum
of N74.9 million through false pretence.

He was said to have claimed to be into gold business and lured
people to invest and get 20 percent monthly profit in addition to
annual dividend.

“We made our investigation, following a petition against him by
one Hadiza Aliyu and found out that he was not into such business,”
Lawal said.

According to him, the suspected fraudster was arrested in Ibadan
and a Mercedes Benz (C-280) and a house at Mabera area with 91
customers’ certificates.

He said that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as
investigations were concluded.

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