The governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed has condemned the arrest of the state’s Accountant-General, Sirajo Muhammad by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mukhtar Gidado, the governor said Muhammad’s arrest was politically motivated.According to the governor, Muhammad’s arrest is a game plan by the ruling party to silence the opposition.
Recall that Muhammad was arrested over allegations of the diversion and misappropriation of N70 billion belonging to the state.
“Many Nigerians now view this as nothing more than a political witch-hunt rather than a genuine anti-corruption effort. The timing and manner of the arrest cast doubt on the real intention behind it,” the statement said.
Expressing shock over the arrest of the Bauchi Accountant General, the governor said the matter was already under investigation by the state.
“While we acknowledge the EFCC’s responsibility to investigate matters related to financial management, we must also stress that this particular issue is already under active investigation by the Bauchi State Anti-Corruption Agency, under the leadership of DIG Sani Mohammed (retd.), a respected veteran of the EFCC and one of Nigeria’s foremost anti-corruption professionals.
“The EFCC is well aware of this ongoing effort, which has led to significant actions, including the removal, arrest, and ongoing investigation of the immediate former Accountant General and several permanent secretaries,” it added.
The statement added the Bauchi State Government has demonstrated commitment to transparency and accountability and had ranked high in its public financial management.
