Corruption case of Buhari's minister 'Usani Usani' withdrawn abruptly

Several Nigerian eyebrows have been raised about the inconsistency of President Muhammadu Buhari's anti corruption war, and now the brows are about to get higher.

This is due to the abrupt withdrawal of the corruption case against the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Usani.

He was charged with fraud 15 years ago, after he was indicted in 2000 by the government of Cross River State where he served as a Commissioner for Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Development.

An investigative committee, in its report said Mr. Usani intentionally refused to apply government approved scales when he paid out some money as fees to Gersh Henshaw & Company, a firm of estate surveyors and valuers.

The firm handled the contract for the valuation of vehicles, workshops and equipment belonging to the Cross River State Water Board, which was said to be part of the African Development Bank water project in the state.

The state state government lost N16.323 million because of Mr. Usani’s “deliberate” action, the report said.

Acting on this report, the state government filed a complaint against Mr. Usani at the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

However, no sooner had CCB forwarded the case to the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for trial, than the state government quickly made a U-turn, and asked for its discontinuation.

No reason was given for the decision.

But those familiar with the case said the government’s action may have been influenced by political consideration.

(Premium Times)

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