The deputy governor, Mr. Sani Danladi Abubakar had been accused of diverting a Millennium Development Goals project to his private school, Yagai Academy, which houses his other business ventures like Yagai Water, Yagai Printing Press and Yagai Restaurant, acts which the house of assembly described as “gross misconduct.” The house of assembly said locating the MDG ICT Centre and sinking motorised boreholes in Yagai Academy were unacceptable, as the school was his private venture and members of the public could not access them.
They also alleged that the deputy governor used his influence to acquire “a large expanse of land in Jalingo on which he built Yagai Academy (together with all other multi million naira business ventures sited therein like Yagai Water, Yagai Printing Press and Yagai Restaurant), an institution which is worth about N1 billion. The lawmakers said his total emoluments as a deputy governor could not justify such investments, adding that he had breached the code of conduct for public office-holders which requires that he shows transparency in the act of governance.
He was also accused of undue interference in the postings and transfers of indigenes of his local government area, Karim Lamido, and working against the interests of other stakeholders of the local government area.
Responding to the lawmakers’ allegations, Danladi said the Yagai Cybercafe was an initiative of a member of the House of Representatives and its current Chief Whip, Ishaka Bawa, representing Wukari/Ibi federal constituency.
Danladi said the project was carried out by MDGs Projects for Yagai Academy, noting that the school did not request or solicit for either in writing or orally.
He said the MDGs office put its logo on the projects as a confirmation of its contribution to the development of the school, adding that Yagai, as a profit-making venture, could sink a borehole from its profits.
He added that the contract for solar lights at Yagai and street lights were not awarded by his office, adding that all the contracts were awarded by the state government after being subjected to due process.
He also said his office was not assigned the responsibility of monitoring and supervising the contract and he could not be held responsible for the diversion of such projects.
Danladi also presented a document to show how he acquired and built the Yagai Academy from various individuals.
He also tendered evidence of bank loans obtained from Zenith Bank and First Bank, with which he developed the institution.
He pleaded with the members of the House of Assembly to be objective in their deliberations and promised to be more committed to the party and the people of the state.
During the investigation of the allegations against the deputy governor, the house denied receiving N100 million bribe from Governor Danbaba Suntai to remove his deputy.
However, there are indications that the removal of the deputy governor is the fallout of a strained relationship between Suntai and some influential citizens of the state.