By Emma Okereh
Worried that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has not done anything in the open to suggest that action is being taken by way of investigation on the issues raised against Sen Barau Jibrin by the northern Youth Council in Nigeria (NYCN), a group under the auspices of Center for Democratic Research and Budget Tracking and others, have urged the federal government to suspend and prosecute the senator over the issues raised by the youth body.
While addressing newsmen in Abuja at the weekend, its chairman and secretary, Dr Ibrahim Jimeta and Jerry Adams respectively, expressed support to the youths even as it expressed dismay at the inability of the anti graft body in swinging into action weeks after it blew the whistle.
A statement issued after the briefing reads in part: ” We hereby express our support for action to complement a petition of this magnitude by the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) dated 7th October, 202 submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking to investigate the senator.
According to the petition, Mr Jibrin, who is the chairman Senate Committee on Appropriation, is the defacto owner of Sinti Nigeria Limited (RC398938), and children are on the board of director of the Company .
The group also alleged that the Senator is also the sole proprietorship of Engr. Jibril Power Electrical Engineering (BN2431830).
“The Directors of SINTI NIGERIA LIMITED who happened to be the children of the senator are also owners of Talgo Luxury Estate Investment Nig Ltd (RC1312306), owned by Khalil Jibrin; Zajib Multi- purpose Business Stores (BN2637321), owned by Zainab Jibrin.
While giving details of some of the contract undertaken by these companies, the group also claimed that the contract for the completion of 13 Study Centers in Kano North Senatorial District, captured in the 2020 budget with the code ERG22582428 at the cost of N430,000,000 under the Ministry of Education was carried out by the senator’s company.
It stated that Jibrin was the chairman, senate committee on Tertiary Education, during the 8th senate, asserting,
“We can confirm that the contract was awarded to SINITI NIGERIA LIMITED due to the Senator’s influence. The project has since been abandoned. Yet the money for the project has been paid by the Federal Government. The senator has since diverted the money for his personal use to the detriment of the good people of Kano North Senatorial District,” the petition said.
It further said that “The Senator also benefited directly from the contract for the repairs and rehabilitation of Getso Dam Kano North Senatorial district, captured in the 2020 budget as ERGP 22583468 under the Ministry of water Resources.
“ The third tranche payment made was the sum of N16,000,000 (Sixteen Million Naira). The dam is still in its state of dilapidation. There is no repair or rehabilitation on the dam.
“ We are also deeply concerned that the senator and his children are presently in possession of abundance of wealth that surpasses the legitimate income of the Senator.
It submits that ”with these activities by this senator, it will be kind to justify tax payers sweat by suspending the senator and investigating him on this avalanche of atrocities committed under a government that swore an oath to fight corruption to it drastic end.
May we use this medium to call on the immediate suspension of senator Barau Jibrin and investigations should be carried out on him as a matter of urgency.
Because Nigerians and the world are watching how this sensitive matter will be handled by the Federal Government of Nigeria , Senate President Dr. Ahmed Lawn and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, it submitted.
