In a shocking revelation, it has been reported that the former Chairman of Jos North Local Government Area, Shehu Bala, allegedly diverted a staggering amount of over N250,993,134 from the Council’s account for personal use between January and February 2023.
The Transparency, Accountability, and Initiative group, after conducting a thorough investigation into the financial records of the Council, made this revelation on Wednesday.
According to the group, it was discovered that a portion of the funds was purportedly disbursed to select councillors who were considered loyal to the former Chairman. Additionally, some of the money was allegedly given to contractors without any evidence of work being done.
The group further highlighted several irregularities in the financial transactions. They noted that there were no supporting documents for the award of contracts, and the contracts themselves were not carried out in accordance with proper procedures. Discrepancies were also found in the contract sums stated in the summary sheet, bank account statements, and budgetary provisions.
One particular case that was highlighted involved KEGA MOTORS LTD, which allegedly supplied six vehicles to Jos North Local Government Area at a cost of N60,940,500. The contracts were awarded on February 15, 2023, and the full amount was reportedly paid as stated in the contract summary.
The investigation also revealed that the project account of the Local Government indicated that KEGA MOTORS LTD received mobilization funds for the contract event before its official award on February 15, 2023. The report showed that the first tranche of payment for the contract, amounting to N25,000,317.50, was made on January 31, 2023. In total, KEGA MOTORS LTD received N52,052,317.50.
Furthermore, discrepancies were found in the budget estimate for 2023, with multiple instances of line items being repeated, raising suspicions of fraudulent activity. Multiple payments to individuals such as Ishaya Atu and Cecelia Azi from overhead accounts without proper definition were also observed.
It is worth noting that the former Chairman, Shehu Bala, and his counterparts from the other 17 Local Government Areas have been accused of refusing to submit themselves for investigation by the Plateau State House of Assembly. This resulted in their subsequent suspension from office.
The allegations against Shehu Bala and the significant amount of money involved have raised serious concerns about financial mismanagement and corruption within the Jos North Local Government Area. Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into these allegations to ensure accountability and bring those responsible to justice.