Former government officials of Zamfara state have clarified issues surrounding the allegedly missing N70 billion from the state government account.
The ex-government officials who addressed the media in Abuja, also called for the impeachment of Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara state.
Led by the former commissioner of finance and economic planning, Mr. Rabiu Garba and Honourable Ibrahim Dosara, former commissioner of information, said it is mischief and campaign of calumny on the part of the present government, led by Governor Lawal.
They accused the state governor of engaging in extra budgetary spending without the approval of the State House of Assembly.
Garba said, “We are calling on the State House of Assembly to impeach the governor for spending outside the budget of the state. He awarded contract that is not in the budget.”
He said the state government terminated the contract of a company and asked it to return N4. 5 billion.
“The company’s contract has been terminated and the company was asked to refund N4.5b for work allegedly not done. It is not true that money was paid without due process. They have revoked the contract illegally and it was awarded to friends and cronies of government.”
Garba said, the contract was initially awarded for about N25b and has now been jacked up to N50b after the contract of the company was terminated and the company has taken the state government to court.
“EFCC went to banks and asked about the contract we executed. The Court stopped them from further investigation because they don’t have jurisdiction as it related to the state fund.”
For his part, former commissioner of information Ibrahim Dosara, said the government of former Governor Matawalle left the state better than what it is today.
