A former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, and the lawmaker representing Delta North Senatorial District, Peter Nwaboshi, have faulted the fresh looters’ list released by the Federal Government on Sunday.
Aliyu, in a statement on Monday by his media aide, Israel Abije, said his inclusion in the list was meant to tarnish his name.
In the fresh list released by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Muhammed, Aliyu was accused of taking N1.6bn from the office of the national security adviser.
The former governor denied taking the money, adding that he was excluded from the sharing of the fund because he was a member of the G-7.
The G-7 consists of the governors who broke away from the Peoples Democratic Party in 2013.
Aliyu stated, “I have never been mentioned in any ONSA disbursement since 2015. I have no case with the Federal Government over the alleged disbursement or any other. I have every reason to believe the looters’ list in which my name was included was drafted to tarnish me before right thinking Nigerians.
“I believe somebody somewhere is leveraging on the unfortunate case I have with the Niger State Government to present a bogus dragnet of alleged looters. Let me therefore urge the Federal Government to de-list me immediately from the alleged looters.
“I demand that my name be cleared on this matter. I may consider other options as a citizen whose right as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Government has been breached. I will not be used to serve the interest of anybody or political party. I will not allow this matter to slide without justice.”
Nwaboshi carpeted the Minister of Information and Culture over the latest looters’ list.
Nwaboshi, who is one of the three members of the Senate on the list, was alleged to have looted N1.5bn.
Speaking to one of our correspondents on the telephone on Sunday night, the lawmaker asked why his name was put on the list when he had not been invited, interrogated and tried in court.
“I don’t know why he (the minister) would mention my name in a matter that is not before any court. I am not a looter. I have never looted any money. I have not been convicted by any court or charged to any court,” he said.
Nwaboshi added, “…First of all, it is an absolute lie. I have never been in a position to loot money. I did a contract and I have the certificate of the contract; it was verified before it was issued. If some miscreants – I call them miscreants – write a petition (against somebody) and you say the person is a looter, that is … taken too far.
“If you have a case and you have not been declared guilty by a court or even tried at all, does that make you a looter? A case has not been proven and your name will just be mentioned? I think it is … take too far.”
Meanwhile, a former Secretary of National Democratic Coalition, Mr. Ayo Opadokun, has said that it is sad, disappointing and surprising that the two lists of alleged looters by the Federal Government was not holistic.
He stated that the names of some members of the All Progressives Congress accused of corruption were omitted in the FG’s lists.
He, however, said it was surprising that the APC “now appear to have become a haven for former PDP members accused of corruption,” who he noted, defected to the APC, while their corruption allegations and serious prosecution appeared to be in the cooler. (Punch)
