Bauchi  LAWBA Berates Governor Bala Mohammed’s  Anti-Corruption Agency, Calls On EFCC /ICPC To Investigate

Yakubu Busari

An Association under the platform of  Lawyers for the Cause of Bauchi (LAWBA) has applauded the Court of Appeal sitting in Jos, Plateau State in Appeal No: CA/19/2023 delivered judgement on the 28/03/2025 affirming the decision of the lower court to the effect that the law earlier made by the Bala Mohammed-led administration in Bauchi State which was meant to create a corruption fighting body in the frame or similar to the EFCC is invalid.

 

He decried the illegal introduction of an anti-corruption agency by the Bauchi State Government, subjecting the former Accountant-General, Sa’idu Abubakar, in the name of fighting corruption, with allegations of promoting the Governor Bala Mohammed transparency and accountability network.

 

 

Addressing a world press conference in Jos , Spokesperson for the  allied groups at the NUJ Secretariat, Jos Plateau State, on Monday 28th April 2025 condemned the exercise as baseless and unfounded.

 

 

Barr.Adam  Usamat Kabir,Deputy Chairman, leadership and members  on behalf of the Lawyers for the Cause of Bauchi and its allied groups, praised Almighty God for this unique opportunity to address some burning national issues especially as they concern the EFCC, on-going corruption cases against the PDP-led administration in Bauchi State and the growing conversation, debate and divergent views across the public domain pertaining to the said imminent defection of the Governor of Bauchi State.

 

According to the statement, His Excellency Governor Bala Mohammed had been on a secret plot to defect from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged political midnight politicking.

 

 

The issues on the ground that we have to cut short or delay their journey to Abuja, where they intend to follow up on some petitions against the government of Bauchi State pending before the Anti-Graft agencies, made up of the EFCC and the ICPC with a view to having action expedited on them, he said.

 

This being the case, we wish to state our position on the issues at stake as follows:

 

 

The allegations fingered against the Former A.G being the only public figure out of many being singled out for investigation thereby making it more like a case of selective and persecution-driven process, the law on the basis of which the government was proceeding against him has been invalidated by the judgement of the Bauchi Division of the Federal High Court.

 

It naturally concerns and disturbs all right-thinking persons that of the multitude and of course mind-boggling corruption cases pertaining to Bauchi State only the immediate past A-G was being singled out for the so-called investigation.

 

 

Where are the likes of the former SSG among other officials or people related to the Governor or his government whose names keep featuring in one case or the other?

 

 

The implication of the judgement is that the Court has further cleared the coast as regards the role, duties and responsibilities of the EFCC and ICPC on corruption and other cases of graft against Bauchi State.

 

In other words, the ball has now been put in the court of these anti-graft bodies with respect to matters involving Bauchi State like other states in the country.

 

The needful must as such be done on a sustained basis until justice is attained. Our idea of justice on this matter is for the government at all levels to always give a satisfactory account of all the tax payers’ money, resources and other articles of general ownership put in their hands on trust.

 

THE SSG BAUCHI STATE, ACCOUNTANT GENERAL AND OTHER OFFICIALS INVOLVED SHOULD RESIGN OR BE SUSPENDED FORTWITH

 

It is our view that based on the seriousness of the allegations against the SSG of Bauchi State, the Accountant General and other officials involved in the corruption case currently pending before Honourable Justice O. A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court Abuja and the fact that some of these officials of Bauchi State Government shunned an earlier invitation by the EFCC on the matter.

 

We call on all of them to resign or step aside from their respective offices forthwith pending the determination of the case against them. Upon their failure to do so, the Governor should immediately suspend them from office.

 

 

 

In Edo State, it was only recently that the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice Samson Osagie was recalled from suspension after he, alongside the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, were suspended on allegations of involvement in financial corruption. So, the Governor of Bauchi State has the moral and even legal duty to follow suit.

 

 

That is the only way speedy, smooth and expeditious hearing of the case can be attained while at the same time the battered image into which the matter dragged the reputation of the state would be positively adjusted.

 

 

 

We wish to add at this juncture that anything short of this will further erode confidence about the credibility, integrity and standing of the Bala Mohammed-led administration with regards to financial fidelity, probity, accountability and so on.

 

OUR STAND ON GOVERNOR BALA MOHAMMED’S TOUTED DEFECTION TO THE ALL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS (APC)

 

 

the Governor of Akwa Ibom State of the PDP declared his support for President’s Tinubu re-election, come 2027.

 

In doing so, he justified his decision by saying that there are people who oppose the President’s re-election bid in the open only for them to go there at night and pledge their support.

 

 

Now whether our Governor of Bauchi State belongs to this group of opposition leaders in view of unfolding developments in the polity remains a matter of public discussion.

 

 

But with the defection last week of the Governor of Delta State Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor the running mate to the PDP Presidential Candidate in 2023 Ifeanyi Okowa from the PDP to the APC and the heightened speculations, views and commentaries with which the public space has been occupied as to whether the on-going investigation of the latter by the EFCC influenced his decision to move to the party at the centre which certainly has seen attention on the rise about the potential or possibility for Governor Bala to  do the same and defect to the APC, we share the concern of lots of citizens of Bauchi State on the matter for a number of reasons.

 

In the first place, we recognize the right of citizens, politicians and other Nigerians to in the exercise of their right join any political party of their choice.

 

So the Chairman PDP Governor’s Forum in the person of Kauran Bauchi is free to join the APC.