N117bn misappropriation uncovered under Tambuwal – Sokoto panel

The Sokoto State Government on Tuesday formally received the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry established to examine the activities of the immediate past administration of former governor, Aminu  Tambuwal, reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.

While presenting the report at a ceremony in Sokoto, the chairman of the commission, Justice Mu’azu Pindiga,said the committee uncovered “widespread financial irregularities amounting to over N117bn,  stemmed largely from disregard for procurement laws, weak financial controls and abuse of executive authority.”

Justice Pindiga, however, said,  “This commission is not aimed at political vendetta but a constitutional responsibility.”

Receiving the report, Governor  Ahmed Aliyu commended the commission for conducting what he described as a “diligent, impartial, and evidence-based assignment”.

“The establishment of this commission was never an act of vendetta, nor was it intended to settle political scores or target any individual,” Aliyu said.

“Rather, it was an exercise of profound constitutional and civic responsibility aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and public trust in governance.”

According to the government, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry was constituted following widespread concerns raised by citizens and institutions over the management of state resources during the previous administration, particularly regarding inherited assets, liabilities, and official records.

Governor Aliyu explained that the inquiry was in line with his administration’s commitment to open governance and responsible leadership.

“Before assuming office, we promised the people of Sokoto an absolute standard of transparency and accountability. In fulfillment of that promise, it became necessary to subject inherited records and liabilities to an impartial and structured review,” he said.

Earlier, Justice Pindiga disclosed that the commission received 31 memoranda from government agencies, organisations, and individuals during the course of its assignment.

He said a total of 246 witnesses testified before the panel.

“The commission carried out its assignment with fairness, diligence, and a deep sense of responsibility,” Justice Pindiga said.

“Our work was conducted strictly within the confines of our terms of reference as provided at our inauguration.”

According to him, the final report was segmented into five parts, a structure he said ensured clarity and objectivity.

“The report is devoid of witch-hunt. The segmentation enabled us to properly analyse the issues and arrive at balanced findings and recommendations based strictly on evidence,” he added.

In response, Governor Aliyu reiterated that the commission’s work was guided by the rule of law, not personal interests, assuring that the report would be treated with seriousness.

“The mandate of the commission was to ascertain facts, examine records, listen to testimonies, and make recommendations based on evidence,” the governor said.“This exercise was anchored on the rule of law, not the rule of man.”

He added that the report would be reviewed through appropriate institutional channels, including relevant audit and oversight bodies, to ensure due process.

The governor expressed optimism that the commission’s findings would help shape policy decisions and strengthen institutional accountability in the state.

“It is our sincere hope that this report will contribute meaningfully to the development trajectory of Sokoto State and preserve the integrity of our institutions,” he said.

Thanking the committee members, he said,“We owe you a deep debt of gratitude for your commitment to the service of our state.”

Efforts to get the reaction of the former governor was not successful as his number was not available as of the time of filing this report.

However, the Peoples Democratic Party in the state said it would react to the allegations after getting the details of the report submitted by the commission to the governor.

Speaking on behalf of the party, its spokesman, Hassan  Sanyinnawal, said, “We will come up with our reaction once we get the details of the report submitted to the governor.

“I am sure they all know the total allocation of the state government during the previous government, but we will react on it by then.”(Punch)