Probe Masari’s Financial Misappropriation, Katsina Whistleblower Tells EFCC

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The Katsina-based whistleblower, Abdulmumin Shehu-Sani, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the former governor of the state, Mr. Aminu Bello Masari over alleged financial misappropriation.

Speaking at a press Conference in Katsina yesterday, Sani claimed that Masari misappropriated and embezzled public funds amounting to over N400 billion when he was governor of the state.

He added that Masari, who served Katsina under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) between 2015 to 2023, left corruption, squander mania and failure in all sectors of governance as his legacies in the state.

Sani therefore, urged  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against appointing former Governor Masari into his cabinet  because of what he termed huge loss of finances and other resources in the state under his administration.

The self-acclaimed whistle-blower said President Tinubu deserves to work with persons of proven integrity who would add to the credibility of his government rather than those who will tarnish its image.

He said after eight years as governor, “Masari should stand trial for corruption, mismanagement and the billions of money that got missing from the public treasury during his reign rather than standing at the floor of the senate to be screened for another opportunity to amass more.”

He claimed that if Tinubu appoints the erstwhile Katsina governor into his cabinet, he will be awarding and recycling corruption and failure “because Masari has emptied the state’s treasury when was governor”.

He further alleged that Masari left a debt profile of N135 billion which includes loans of over N100 billion, pension and severance liabilities of N20 billion “and he (Masari) owed contractors N15 billion”.

According to him, “This is a clear indication of bad governance particularly when there is no standard capital project or worthwhile programme to justify the huge loans and liabilities”.

He also claimed that  Masari has no electoral value, adding that his eight years as governor further exposed his “many deficiencies in leadership, governance and politics.”

However, efforts to reach ex-governor Masari to comment on the allegations were futile as he couldn’t respond to messages and calls put to his telephone lines as of press time.