From Yobe State, North Eastern Nigeria come allegations profligacy, cronyism, misappropriation of public funds totaling about $390 Million against Governor Mamman Ali and certain powerful contractors linked to Nigeria’s Vice President Mr. Goodluck Jonathan. In barely eighteen months in office, Governor Ali who was elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in 2007 was said to have perfected less than wholesome means for diverting and squandering more than $390 Million being total statutory allocation from Nigerian Federal purse.

Sources in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State alleged that Governor Ali who has spent less than 20 days in terms of personal presence in the State since becoming Governor had literarily relocated every instrument of Governance to Abuja, the Federal Capital from where he runs the affairs of Yobe while installing a protégé, the commissioner for Finance, Mohammed Hassan, as defacto Governor. And for his regular Abuja trips, Governor Ali allegedly spent an inappropriate $10.5 Million (N1.5 Billion) in a year.

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A further break down of how the questionable cost was incurred by tax payers of Yobe State shows Ali simply became completely prodigal by usually traveling in chattered flight to Abuja at a total cost of $5 Million (N500 Million) in a year. Within the same period, he also jetted to some foreign countries at an eye-popping cost of $10 Million (N1 Billion).

Damaturu’s information apparatus often apply the spin that the Governor is an unbeatable political achiever especially in terms of carrying out capital projects but investigations revealed that he has a way of settling close political cronies and business associates with little or no expertise for executing affected projects. For example, he awarded a $26 Million (N2.6 Billion) contract for the building of so called Boarding Schools for elementary pupils in all the 17 Local Government areas of the State to the younger brother of Vice President GoodLuck Jonathan, the owner of Sermatch Nigeria Limited. Although, contract sums were said to have been paid 100 percent, in a manner reminiscence of the culture of funds diversion under Nigeria’s military past, the contract remains unexecuted.

The same company with headquarters in Bayelsa State had defaulted in another contract worth over $10 Million about (N1 Billion) for the building of Yobe College dormitories. A Kaduna State based tabloid had earlier fingered the same company in other contract charades.

The Governor tries to be wise by an inch when it comes to allowing the state legislature to perform its statutory oversight duty in ensuring standard checks and balances over cash out flows and other functions. There is the usual pretence at being transparent and accountable. For example, Governor Ali allegedly trying to fool Yobe citizens that he invested the state’s money on stocks valued at $120 Million about (N12 Billion). He also claimed that another $90 Million about (N9 Billion) was invested in the capital market. He also said that about $120 Million about N12 Billion was kept in two prominent banks, Afribank and First Bank. But his critics, especially some members of the state House of Assembly said that the balance sheet being presented by the Governor is an outright cook-up that does not reflect the sorry state of the economy.

One time House of Representative member from Bauchi State, Alhaji Admau Bulkachuwa is also being named in the Yobe contract scam for allegedly using his company, Midia Consult to receive payment in the sum of N811 for the supply of earth moving equipments in the state, a deal which has borne no fruits.