Panel indicts Tambuwal’s appointees for carting away 745 govt vehicles

The Sokoto State Committee for Wasteful and Unnecessary Government Assets Review revealed on Thursday that 745 government vehicles were taken by appointees of the previous governor, Aminu Tambuwal.

Only 32 have been recovered, with 40 reportedly transported to Niger Republic.

Committee Chairman Jelani Kalgo presented the findings to Governor Ahmed Aliyu, highlighting a government property sold for N60 million, but only N30 million was remitted.

The report exposes concerns about the misappropriation of government resources and the incomplete remittance of proceeds from asset sales.

He said, “Three hundred and two vehicles were in the possession of former commissioners, special advisers, and chief executives, while 443 were under the possession of local government areas.

“The committee discovered that about 40 vehicles were released on hire to private individuals and were taken beyond the boundaries of the local government areas; some beyond the boundary of the state and some beyond the boundary of Nigeria to as far as Niger Republic.

“The vehicles include six graders, six payloaders, three rollers, nine tippers, four water tankers, and two fire service tankers, among others. This is very disturbing.

“We have so far retrieved 32 vehicles from former government officials, including commissioners, special advisers, and chief executives of ministries, departments, and agencies.

“We went round all the 23 local government areas and found out that, 70 percent of the 443 vehicles there were grounded

“Your Excellency, some of these vehicles were found hidden in far places at the state metropolis.’’

Kalgo mentioned that a lack of funds hindered the committee from retrieving more vehicles.

Governor Aliyu expressed gratitude to the committee and pledged to review the report for appropriate action.

Attempts to reach the immediate Commissioner for Information, Akibu Dalhatu, were unsuccessful.

Calls to the ex-governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Mohammed Bello, went unanswered, and a text message remained unanswered at the time of publication.