Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has incurred the wrath of
President Mohammadu Buhari and may have been shut out from the
Presidential Villa for allegedly squandering over N600Billion meant for
Local Governments in the State and Internally Displaced Persons, IDP’s,
Pointblanknews.com has learnt.
Sources told Pointblanknews.com that Gov. Shettima failed woefully to
convince President Buhari on his expenditures of Federal Allocation of
about N200Billion and N400Billion collected for 27 Local Governments in
Borno State.
Gov. Shettima had approached the President for a bailout for the embattled
state.
The Borno state government had revealed that terrorist group, Boko Haram
controls 20 out of the 27 local government area in Borno state over the
last five years. Only Maiduguri Metropolitan, Jere, Konduga, Kaga, Bayo,
Kwayakusar and Biu local government areas remain in government hands.
But the Government of Shettima has repeatedly collected funds for all the
Local Governments including those under the control of Boko Haram.
The President is particularly miffed over Governor Shettima’s inability to
account for over N600Billion he has so far collected as either Federal
Allocations, funds meant for Local Government Areas of the state and
donations from corporate organizations and individuals for Boko Haram
victims, sources within the state and the Presidency told
Pointblanknews.com.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, are currently looking
at the accounting records of the state with the view to determining all
those linked with the embezzlement of resources meant for the Boko Haram
troubled State.
Said one source “ The President has refused to see the Governor because he
cannot account for the over N400 Billion he received on behalf of the 22
local councils sacked by Boko haram, and the over N200 Billion he received
for Borno state.”
According to the source, Buhari has an axe to grind with Shettima in the
areas of funds that accrued to the state and councils sacked by Boko
Haram, and how the Governor allegedly embezzled, diverted and
misappropriated large chunk of state funds.
Pointblanknews.com learnt that Buhari refused to approve Shettima’s
request for bail out because he could not tell him what happened to the
funds meant for the sacked councils, and what he has done with the over
N200 Billion received for the state from Federal allocation.
Our source said “when he requested the President asked him, how many local
councils are active, he said two and that most inhabitants of the other 25
were in IDP camps, the President then asked him what about the over N400
Billion meant for the councils he said it was intact. But it was a lie. He
told the President he was spending N650 million on those in the IDP’s but
in reality, Shettima’s government was spending a paltry N40 million a
month on the displaced people. ”
It was gathered that even though he has immunity the EFCC has commenced a
full scale probe into how Shettima, who frittered over N64 Billion left
in the state’s coffers by his predecessor, Ali Modu Sherrif, expended
the N600 Billion that accrued to the state and 27 local councils. No
evidence of any projects in the 27 local councils.
Only recently, Pointblanknews.com exclusively reported how Gov. Shettima
connived with the Managing Director of the Borno State Micro Finance,
Hajia Zainab Kolo to steal N2.1billion from the Bank. Zainab in a chat
with Pointblanknews.com said she only followed orders from the Governor on
the N2.1billion scandal.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that Kolo is already being quizzed by the EFCC
over the diversion.
According to sources, Kolo, on the instruction of the Governor put
together a bogus list of beneficiaries who got between N50,000 and N500,
000, but in reality, the jobless youths got N10,000 each without
collateral nor guarantors.
Shettima who frettered away N65 Billion left in the coffers of the state
by his predecessor Alli Modu-Sherriff, became desperate.
Pointblanknews.com also gathered that Shettima and Kolo pulled a fast one
on the state on this issue of N2 Billion from CBN. Shortly after the loan
came from CBN, the governor allegedly stashed N1Billion in a third
generation bank, and directed Kolo to disbursed N10,000 to few youths.
Later another N2 Billion came from Business mogul Aliko Dangote as part
his empowerment drive in the state. Kashim and Kolo allegedly diverted the
Dangote cash as well.
In a telephone chat with Pointblanknews.com, embattled Kolo said she did
nothing wrong, and that as an employee of the state she barely followed
orders.