EFCC grills ex-Adamawa Deputy Governor

• May declare Nyako wanted

•Agency defreeze state accounts

For about three hours yesterday, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) grilled former Adamawa State Deputy Governor Bala Ngillari on alleged mismanagement of funds during the administration of sacked
Governor Murtala Nyako.

The EFCC said it might declare Nyako wanted as it had been difficult to serve the ex-governor a letter of invitation.
The anti-graft agency said it had defreezed the state’s accounts to enable the administration of Acting Governor
Umaru Fintiri to take off smoothly.

A source said Ngillari arrived at the commission at 10am and left few minutes past 1pm.

The source said Ngilari was questioned on his security votes and his role in the alleged misappropriation of funds.

Nyako was indicted by a seven-man investigation panel headed by Buba Kaigama.
Of the 20 allegations, the House of Assembly found Nyako ‘guilty’ of 16 before impeaching him on July 15.

Some of the allegations were alleged diversion of N2.3billion meant for workers’ salaries; illegal diversion of N1billion
earmarked for the State Scholarship Trust Fund; diversion of N142million emoluments of workers; fraudulent award of contracts of N8billion, among others.

The source said: “Ngilari was invited in respect of security votes and what he knew about the mismanagement of funds during Nyako’s tenure.

“The former deputy governor made a statement and responded to questions on how the Nyako administration was managed.

“But he was asked to go after three hours. The EFCC will still invite Ngillari for more quizzing soon. For now, we can say that
he is on administrative bail.

“Without Nyako coming for questioning, we cannot clear Ngillari at all. This is why the former deputy governor will be re-invited.”

The EFCC said it might declare Nyako wanted, unless he makes himself available for questioning.

EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity Wilson Uwujaren said: “We have tried to serve him a notice of invitation but we cannot trace him. Our operatives went to all Nyako’s known addresses but they could not locate him.

“We advise Nyako to come to the EFCC or else we will have no
option than to declare him wanted.”