The former Chairman of Jos North Local Government Area, Shehu Bala is reported to have diverted over N250,993,134 from the Council account to his personal use between January and February, 2023.
A group under the umbrella of Transparency, Accountability and Initiative made the revalation on Wednesday after thorough investigation on the financial records of the Council.
It was learned that some of the funds which were allegedly paid to some selective councillors who are considered loyal to the former Chairman while some were said to have been disbursed to contractors without evidence of work.
According to the group, there are no documents supporting the procedure for the award of contracts; contracts were not done in accordance with procedures and there are discrepancies with regards to contract sum quotes in the summary sheet bank account statement and budgetary provision.
It was alleged that KEGA MOTORs LTD supplied 6 vehicles to Jos North LGA at N60,940,500.00 and all these were awarded on 15/02/2023 and amount paid completely as submitted in the contract summary for Jos North.
The investigation revealed further that the project account of the Local Government suggested that KEGFA MOTORS LTD got mobilized for the contract event before its award on the 15/02/2023.
The report shows that the first tranche of payment of the contract was in the sum of N25, 000, 317.50 on the 31/01/2023. The total amount paid to KEGA MOTORS LTD is N52,052,317.50.
It was observed that the line items in the budget estimate for 2023 full of repetition and also suggested fraud. One of the budget item with some economic code appears several times with different estimates.
It was observed also that there was multiple payment to Ishaya Atu from overhead account without proper definition and there was transfer of N10,000,000 from UBA Jos North overhead to capital without overhead availing evidence as well as multiple payment nto CECELIA Azi from overhead account proper definition.
It was based on some of these allegations that the former Jos North Chairman, Shehu Bala and his counterparts across the 17 Local Government Areas refused to submit themselves for investigation by Plateau State House of Assembly that led to their suspension in Office.
