By Sunday Ani
As Nigerians await the list of ministerial nominees, former Senior Editor of TELL Magazine, and Principal Partner of Osa Director Law Chamber, Osa Director, has called on President Bola Tinubu not to include the names of former Governors Bello Matawalle, Abdullahi Ganduje and Atiku Bagudu of Zamfara, Kano and Kebi.
He stated that rather than consider them for the ministerial appointments, they should be arraigned for their heinous economic crimes.
Director, who said the call became imperative following the recent news in the media that the list would soon be released, warned that appointing the trio would be morally abominable and politically reprehensible considering their pedigree, which he said was laced and deodorised with allegations of corruption and theft in office.
In a statement, a copy of which was made available to the Daily Sun, Director stressed that the poor leadership and political marksmanship of the three former chief executives in their respective states resulted in the pauperisation of Nigerians and underdevelopment of their states.
He said Matawalle was accused in a briefing by the Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC) of embezzlement and misappropriation of over N70 billion as governor of Zamfara State.
“He was also accused by his successor in office of having looted the property of Zamfara State, including official vehicles. This resulted in the Nigeria Police Force raiding two of his houses to recover some of the vehicles. Matawalle was so brazen in his corrupt style that he awarded a contract worth N700,000,000 to an engineering company, C.G.G.C Engineering Company Limited, to clear and pay Customs duty on 200 units of Hilux (Ford 2019 vehicles).
“He also comically awarded the supply of another set of vehicles to the tune of N1 Billion to a pharmaceutical company, Danguruf Pharmaceuticals Limited. The same pharmaceutical company was awarded a contract to the tune of over N59,000,000 for the construction of one Governor’s Lodge. Most of the contracts awarded to cronies and fronts were paid up front,” he said.
The veteran journalist-turned lawyer equally said the former Kano governor, Ganduje, is famously known for converting his ‘agbada’ to private banking services, with a dollar-denominated domiciliary account.
“He was caught in a video collecting kickbacks and bribes allegedly from contractors in his office in Kano. Due to the immunity he enjoyed then, he was never prosecuted. However, this is the right time to prosecute him and the EFCC is already on his tail.”
He also cautioned Tinubu against appointing Bagudu whose case he described as quite intriguing. He said Bagugu was one of the front men for late General Sani Abacha and alleged that he helped the deceased military head of state to launder money in foreign vaults.
“Surprisingly, as an Abacha loot kingpin, he crawled his way into the nation’s politics, first becoming a senator, and later served as governor of Kebbi State for two terms. Today, Kebbi State is one of the most underdeveloped states in Nigeria. No access roads, no electricity, and no pipe borne water; the hospitals are functional mortuaries….Matawalle, Ganduje and Bagudu should be arraigned for their heinous economic crimes, which are crimes against humanity, not rewarding them with ministerial appointments,” he said.