Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating Governor Murtala Nyako's administration in Adamawa State over alleged diversion of local government funds. Sources told Daily Trust that some former and current officials of the government have been interrogated by operatives of the commission at its head office in Abuja.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Local Government Affairs Abdulrahman Tugga, the Commissioner of Finance Ibrahim Vokna, who is a former accountant general in the state, and some staff are among those questioned by the operatives.
"The investigation is ongoing. Some were questioned this week, others were questioned a few days earlier, and more may be invited," one of the sources said.
The former commissioner of Local Government Affairs Alhaji Abubakar Madawaki had also been quizzed earlier, another source said.
The commission declined to disclose whether they were being questioned as possible suspects or as potential witnesses.
But Madawaki told Daily Trust in a telephone interview that he had no knowledge of any ongoing corruption investigation in the state by the EFCC.
The source said Madawaki's name at the EFCC might have come up over an earlier investigation in which the commission detained the former chairman of Demsa Local Government Area Felix Tangwami (who is currently a commissioner in the state) over alleged fraud and embezzlement of public funds two years ago.
The EFCC declined to confirm whether it had dropped those allegations.
Madawaki was a close friend of Governor Nyako until they reportedly fell out earlier this year and was replaced by the governor's son-in-law, Dr Salihu Bakari, as commissioner for local government affairs.
Sources told Daily Trust that the government officials being currently questioned by EFCC were invited via a letter dated 16th August 2012, signed by 'Designated Officer' Chris Owobu, asking them to report to the commission's office in Abuja.
Daily Trust learnt that EFCC operatives had earlier visited Yola, Adamawa State capital, where they spent several days searching for documents at both government offices and branches of some banks that transact business with the state government.
When contacted, the spokesman of EFCC Wilson Uwujaren declined comments.
Daily Trust
They should go to Whit House and see what is going on there.There are so many corrupt beings there