N1.6bn fraud: EFCC arraigns Dakingari’s A-G

By Kabiru Dogon Daji
Birnin Kebbi

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the immediate past Accountant General of Kebbi state, under the current administration of Governor Saidu Nasamu Dakingari, over an alleged misappropriation of N1.6 billion.
Alhaji Muhammad  Arzika, who  retired  barely two months ago, was arraign last week.

Blueprint gathered that, early last week the EFCC arraigned the former accountant-general alongside his accomplice, the Managing Director of Beal Construction Company Nigeria Limited, Muza Yusuf, before Justice Sabiu Bala of Kebbi state High Court, Birnin Kebbi, for offences bordering on conspiracy, abuse of office and money laundering. The case has been adjourned to September 23, 2014 for hearing.
Following the development, staff of Kebbi state Ministry of Finance now entertain fears as nobody knows who would be the next prey of the anti-graft commission amongst them.

Sources told Blueprint that there is panic and fear among the rank and file of the Kebbi state ministry as a result of the development.
“Fears have gripped staff of the Kebbi State Ministry of Finance following the arraignment of the former Accountant General Alhaji Muhammed Arzika Dakingari over alleged N1.6 billion fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,” the source said.
A source close to the ministry told our correspondent that the EFCC’s visit to the state has nothing to do with the staff,  but rather those involved in the scam.

“They have already arraigned them in order to face the full wrath of the law.”
It would be recalled that barely two months ago the former Accountant-General retired from the state civil service upon which he declared his intent to vie for the House of Representatives seat for Suru /Bagudo federal constituency in the 2015 general elections on the platform of the PDP.