The Young Guardians of Accountability (YGA) has submitted a petition to the Economic and Financial Crime Commissions (EFCC) and the Independent Corruption Practices Commission (ICPC) to investigate and prosecute the Minister of Defence and former governor of Jigawa State, Muhammed Abubakar Badaru, over abuse of office.
The group is accusing the minister of flagrantly contravening critical provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act (Cap C15, LFN 2004). The petition reads that: “Mr. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar actively maintains directorship in the following private companies, in violation of federal law prohibiting public officers from engaging in private business activities:
The companies listed below are the companies the group is accusing Mr. Badaru of running despite holding a public office.
TALAMIZ NIGERIA LIMITED
TALAMIZ PETROLEUM NIG. LTD
SOCARTALAMIZ LTD
GULFSTREAM LOGISTICS LIMITED
BABURA LINE LIMITED
EGYPTIAN PHARMACEUTICALS AND HOSPITALS LIMITED7. BIA BUREAU DE CHANGE LIMITED
NIGERIA – NIGER CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE LTD/GTE
NIGERIAN-IRAN BUSINESS COUNCIL LTD/GT. The group wrote that
“Shockingly, Mr. Abubakar continues to file annual returns for these companies, with records as recent as last year. Most egregiously, he operates a licensed Bureau de Change (BDC) while holding a federal ministerial position, flagrantly disregarding the laws designed to prevent conflicts of interest and corruption. The actions of Mr. Abubakar constitute clear breaches of the following provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act: “A public officer shall not, after his appointment, maintain or operate a bank account in any country outside Nigeria; or be a member, director, or shareholder in any company or business, except it be farming.” Mr. Abubakar’s continued directorship in multiple companies, including a licensed Bureau de Change, is a direct and undeniable violation of this section. “A public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts with his duties and responsibilities.” His involvement in businesses, particularly one as sensitive as a Bureau de Change, raises grave concerns about conflicts of interest, especially given his oversight of the Ministry of Defense, a department with significant budgetary allocations.
“Every public officer shall, within three months after the
coming into force of this Act or after taking office, and thereafter at the end of every four years and at the end of his term of office, submit to the Code of Conduct Bureau a written declaration of all his properties, assets, and liabilities.”
“We demand an inquiry into whether Mr. Abubakar fully disclosedhisownership and involvement in these companies as part of his asset declarations. The fact that Mr. Abubakar continues to operate these companies and submit their annual returns, despite knowing these acts contravene federal law, demonstrates a brazen disregard for the rule of law. His operation of a licensed Bureau de Change while serving as Minister of Defense is particularly alarming and suggests a potential scheme to launder money, especially given the vast financial resources allocated to the Ministry of Defense. His actions not only contravene the Code of Conduct Act but also raise significant concerns about his ability to act in the best interests of the nation.
It is reasonable to suspect that his personal companies may be vehicles for
misappropriating public funds for personal enrichment.
In light of these serious allegations, we respectfully urge the Economic andFinancial Crimes Commission to:
Investigate the Allegations: Initiate a thorough investigation into Mr. Abubakar’s business dealings, the operations of the companies listed, and their financial transactions. 2. Examine Asset Declarations: Review his submitted asset
declarations to verify the inclusion of his interests in these companies. 3. Suspend and Prosecute: Suspend Mr. Abubakar from his ministerial position pending the outcome of investigations, and prosecute him if found guilty of violating the Code of Conduct
Bureau and Tribunal Act. 4. Recover Misappropriated Funds: Trace and recover any state funds that may have been funnelled through these companies for personal aggrandisement.
Prevent Future Breaches: Enforce stricter compliance measures to deter other public officers from engaging in similar violations. Mr. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar’s blatant disregard for the law undermines the principles of accountability and transparency expected of public officers. The action of the minister is unbecoming of a person worthy of the position he currently occupies. His action suggests that he might be a threat to the nation’s security. The Ministry of Defense, a cornerstone of Nigeria’s security, cannot be entrusted to an individual whose actions suggest an intention to exploit state resources for personal gain. We trust that the Economic andFinancial Crimes Commission will act decisively to ensure justice and uphold the integrity of public service.”
Mr. Adediran Raymond, Chairman of Young Guardian of Accountability signed the petition. We are not been able to get hold of the spokesperson of the EFCC and that of the ICPC to find out how the commissions are treating the case.