Katsina State governor, Aminu Bello Masari, has vowed to publish names of those who looted treasury during the eight years of immediate past administration in the state.
Masari spoke during a media chat organised by Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Katsina State branch. He said that publishing the names was necessary to come up with facts and figures on the missing N70 billion.
His words: “We will expose all those who looted Katsina State treasury; we will publish their names in newspapers to put the records straight.”
Masari alleged that the former governor of the state, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, auctioned 16 convoy vehicles to himself, his wife, Fatima; former deputy governor, Abdullahi Faskari, and his wife, Libabatu; at cost of N53 million but which was valued at over N400 million.
According to the governor, the vehicles were purchased in 2014 and auctioned in 2015 and that the auctioning of the vehicles was illegal as due process was not followed. Masari explained that his administration has no intention of retrieving the vehicles, but “we would ensure the return of looted funds into government treasury.”
The governor dismissed insinuation that the setting up of a judicial commission of inquiry for the recovery of the looted funds was aimed at tarnishing the image of the former governor and his associates.
“The setting of judicial commission of inquiry was necessary because Shema refused to heed to advice of prominent people of the state to return the looted funds.”
On allegation of embezzlement of N100 billion by his administration, Masari described the allegation as baseless, insisting that his administration ensured transparency in spending of public funds.
“Within these eleven months we took over, we only collected N66 billion from federation account and we spent the money for the payment of salaries and awarded some contracts.
“We urge those accusing us of embezzlement to obtain records from state ministry of finance or banks. We have nothing to hide because we run an open and transparent government.”
