In what appears like justifying the impeachment of his predecessor, the Acting Governor of Adamawa State, Alhaji Umaru Fintirin, has accused the former governor, Rear Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd), of stealing N82 billion state funds.

In order to confirm the figure and recover the said sum, Fintiri hinted that he would not only set up a judicial panel to probe Nyako, but would also invite the security agencies to whom he pledged cooperation.

The acting governor, who made the accusation during his maiden state broadcast yesterday, lamented that in the history of the state, no administration had robbed it of its funds like the administration of Nyako.

“Never in the history of Adamawa State had ‘Executive Stealing’ and institutionalised corruption been elevated to the level of statecraft as in the past administration. The high level of mindless plundering of the state treasury, the shameless and outrageous ‘Executive Stealing’ that took place was on a scale far worse than the ravages that the insurgents had perpetrated in the North-East,” Fintiri said.

Fintiri explained further that N12 billion of the said stolen sum is debt statutorily owed, while N70 billion are monies expended on “non-viable projects”.

“The task before this administration is daunting, more so with a debt profile of more than N12 billion in the Statutory Revenue Account apart from liabilities amounting to N70 billion in the state funds that have been diverted to non-viable projects,” he said.

He said the challenges posed by these vices would certainly weigh heavily on his government, but added that his administration is committed to handing over a better state than it met it.

The panel of inquiry, according to Fintiri, would investigate the mystery behind the stolen state funds with the cooperation of the anti-graft agencies in the country.

The acting governor explained that the inquiry would be done through effective publicity, stressing that everything would be brought to public notice: “The abuses necessitated and justified the change of government in the state.”

Continuing, he said: “Furthermore, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) shall in due course, inform the world about these scandalous abuses and how the simple canons of government activities were thrown overboard.

“Fellow citizens, so much damage has been done to our economy, collective psyche, democracy and the benefits of our ‘unity in diversity’ that all hands must be on deck to reshape the state within this short period. We have indeed entered a new phase in the development of Adamawa State and posterity will judge our actions whether wrong or right. Let us once again resolve to lay a more solid base for growth of this state and the betterment of its people.”

He said his administration had already reactivated the ailing machinery of government in order to ensure peaceful progress through an irrevocable commitment to correcting the wrongs of the past and to reposition the state for future challenges.

“We have therefore mapped out strategies to reinvigorate the various sectors of the economy through which dividends of democracy can reach our citizens. These include giving a new lease of life to the civil service and machinery of government which we have already begun,” Fintiri said.

“A reappraisal of our health, education, infrastructural and social services as well as ensuring economic rejuvenation and provision of equity, justice, fairness and respect for all good and honest citizens,” he added.

The acting governor commended the legislature, judiciary, security agencies and citizens of the state for the positive roles they played in bringing about a peaceful change in the state.

“This government will however not tolerate mischief makers, fraudulent detractors and saboteurs who will be made to face the full wrath of the law,” he noted.

•Excerpted from a THISDAY report. Photo shows ex-governor Nyako.

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