The Niger State House of Assembly has recommended the prosecution of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Kabir Abbas, over the alleged disappearance of 72 tractors belonging to 25 local government areas in the state.
The recommendation is contained in the house Ad Hoc Committee’s report presented by its chairman, Mr Malik Madaki (APC), presented to the house at plenary on Wednesday in Minna.
Also fingered in the alleged deal and recommended for prosecution is the contracting firm, Dogara-ga-Allah Ventures.
The committee was set up in June following a motion moved under matters of urgent public importance, to investigate circumstances of the refurbishment and the missing 72 tractors.
Presenting the report before the house, Madaki, who is also the member, representing Bosso Constituency, said that the commissioner had allegedly disregarded due process in the award of contract and abuse of office.
He said that the committee recommended that the commissioner should be prosecuted alongside the contractor and that the company Dogara ga Allah Ventures should be blacklisted from carrying out contracts in the state for 20 years.
Madaki said that the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs should as a matter of urgency provide documentary evidence of all monies paid to the contractor so far.
He added that the commissioner should be made to return the tractors to 23 local government areas and communicate compliance to the house in two weeks.
He also said that the purported contractor will be directed to return N2.7 million made for transporting the tractors from various local governments and evidence of payment should be communicated to the house in two weeks by the ministry.
The lawmaker added that three tractors refurbished, belonging to Lapai, Chanchaga and Wushishi local government areas should be returned to them.
The house unanimously adopted the committee’s report.
