SOKOTO: The Sokoto State Judicial Commission of Inquiry has uncovered alleged financial infractions amounting to about N117 billion, reportedly linked to the immediate past administration in the state.
The Chairman of the commission, Justice Ma’azu Pindiga, disclosed this on Tuesday while presenting the commission’s report to Governor Ahmad Aliyu in Sokoto.
Pindiga said the commission received 31 memoranda from public and private institutions, as well as individuals, detailing alleged infractions committed between 2015 and 2023.
He explained that the allegations ranged from disregard for due process and non-compliance with financial regulations to abuse of office by public officials.
According to him, 241 witnesses testified before the commission and tendered several exhibits, all of which were carefully examined in line with the commission’s terms of reference.
He emphasised that the sittings were conducted diligently, in accordance with constitutional and legal provisions, and denied claims of witch-hunt or intimidation.
Pindiga said the commission began sittings on August 7, 2023, and operated under several extensions beyond the initial two-month timeline, adding that its findings were categorised into five segments with corresponding recommendations.
In his remarks, Governor Aliyu commended the commission for its thorough work, noting that it was established in response to inherited administrative decay, governance lapses and suspected financial mismanagement.
He dismissed claims that the probe was politically motivated, stressing that the exercise was aimed at safeguarding public funds and ensuring transparency in governance.
