High profile corruption: How Wamakko misappropriated N13bn

In our review of high profile corruption trials today, former Governor of Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamako was accused of misappropriating N13 billion.

Meanwhile, the former Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and NonAdult Education, Dr. Dayo Olagunju, was caught in N479 million fraud.

Read on:

Aliyu Wamakko – N13 billion misappropriation

Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko is a former Governor of Sokoto State from 2007 to 2015. Wamakko who is now a senator is under investigation for alleged abuse of office, misappropriation of public funds and money laundering while serving as governor of Sokoto State alongside other government officials.

His predecessor, former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Dalhatu Attahiru Bafarawa, had on August 1st, 2018 called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate his successor, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, over the alleged missing N13.5 billion state fund.

Bafarawa claimed to have left the money in the state coffers at the expiration of his tenure in 2007, but said he was amazed at claims by his successor, Wamakko, that the money was missing.

The former governor further alleged that Wamakko mismanaged the N1 billion realized from the sales of iron rod belonging to the State Government.

Looking for a soft landing, Wamakko is in charge of Buhari’s campaign in Sokoto State.

He had few months ago held a massive rally on behalf of Buhari in order to prove to the President that Governor Aminu Tambuwal’s defection would be of no effect.

Spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, had confirmed in April 2018 that the commission was investigating allegations contained in a petition against Wamakko and that he would be invited to defend the allegations.

Trial is yet to commence despite the reminder given to EFCC in January 2019 by the former governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa.

Dayo Olagunju – N479 million fraud

Dr. Dayo Olagunju, the former Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and NonAdult Education was on Friday July 24th, 2009, arraigned with charge No: FHC/ABJ/111/2009 at the Federal High Court, FCT, Abuja, before Justice Chikere on a 17- count charge of criminal conspiracy, criminal misappropriation of public funds, diversion, stealing, retaining and processing proceeds of crimes, and awarding of contracts in excess of the approved limit, all making N479 million.

Olagunju and ten former directors – Joshua Durodola Alao, Alice Atteh Abang, Jibrin Rikichi Waguna, Ahmed Abubakar, Shehu Abdullahi, Dr. Victoria –King Nwachukwu, Adamu Khalid, Moses Oseni, Francis Awalewa and Bashir Tanko Suleiman, were standing trial for money laundering and flagrant violation of the Public Procurement Act.

However, three years after they were first arraigned by the EFCC, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on November 22, 2012, ruled on their re-arraignment and the count charge increased to 83.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday November 6, 2012, the new presiding judge, Justice E. S Chukwu, said he would be presiding over the case de novo since he was a new judge just transferred to the court.

But before the plea of the accused could be taken, Mr. Joe Dappa, counsel to the 7th accused person challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter.

The matter is still pending.

Read also:

High profile corruption: How N9.2b fetched James Ibori 13 yrs in UK jail

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[This Publication includes part of a compendium by Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) covering corruption cases as at 22nd of November, 2019.