How former acting governor ‘diverted N1.9bn in 3 months’

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) has allegedly confiscated a property
situated at No. 7, Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja
belived to belong to a former acting Governor of
Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri.
The property, believed to be worth about N500
million had ‘EFCC, under investigation’ painted
at its entrance upon inspection.
Fintiri had been arrested by the EFCC 10 days
ago based on a petition by former members of
his cabinet that he corruptly appropriated N1.9
billion to himself in the 3 months he was acting
governor.
Fintiri became the acting governor of Adamawa
from July 15, 2014 to October 8, 2014 when
Governor Murtala Nyako, and his deputy, Bala
Ngilari were impeached.
A source at the EFCC told Punch Newspaper
that the suspect reportedly diverted money
meant for the construction of the Faculty of
Law at the Adamawa State University.
He said, “Before his impeachment, Nyako left a
balance of N1,957,045,82 in the state
government’s project account with the Yola
branch of Zenith Bank, with account number
1011325467. Out of the money, N497m was
meant for the construction of a law faculty at
the university, which was to be sited at the
former Teachers’ College, Yola.”
“However, when Fintiri took over as acting
governor, he transferred the proposed faculty
from Yola to the Mubi campus of the ADSU and
later laid the foundation; but after that, the
project never took off.”
“Investigations revealed that on Fintiri’s orders,
part of the N1.9bn was released to the Ministry
of Works and a contract was awarded to a
construction company, Mayim Construction
Limited, for the construction of roads in
Mararaba Garta and Kamale in the Michika
Local Government Area of the state. The
company, we believe, is owned by Fintiri, which
is illegal.”
“The roads in question have not been
constructed.”
Also the source revealed that Fintiri bought
Highland Tea, a tea manufacturing company in
Mambilla Plateau and jointly owned by
Adamawa and Taraba states after paying off the
N600 million owed by the factory to the Bank of
Agriculture.
Furthermore, the source revealed that Fintiri
also bought the assets of a firm, S M Nguroje
Nigeria Limited, a tea plantation and processing
plant located in Taraba State through the Bank
of Agriculture for N650 million with his
company.
“We believe that part of the N1.9bn was used in
buying the tea plantation,” the source was
quoted to have said.
It was gathered that Fintiri would soon be
charged to court by the agency as it is also
investigating a loan of N5 billion taken by Fintiri
when he was governor as it was believed to be
acquired without due process.
In response, Fintiri’s spokesperson has
rubbished the allegations describing them as
baseless while stating that the contracts
awarded by the suspects were in accordance to
the laws of the state.
He also said Fintiri’s Abuja home was not
seized, it was only put under investigation.
He said, “The bids for the contracts were
transparent and the ministries concerned duly
advertised the projects for pre-qualification
tender, which was not opened before Fintiri’s
tenure ended.”
“I think what you as a journalist should do is to
find out why a suspect will be held for over 48
hours without being charged to court.”