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Nigeria: Gov Aliyu Alleges Plot to Destabilise Niger
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Leadership (Abuja)
15 May 2008
Posted to the web 15 May 2008
Danladi Ndayebo
The political crisis rocking Niger State took a turn for the worse yesterday as the state governor, Dr Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, alleged that some notable figures were planning to destabilise the state.
The media had on Tuesday reported that Aliyu might have lied in filing pre-election papers, following documents tendered by the All Nigeria Peoples Party candidate, Barrister David Umaru, before the Niger State Election Petitions Tribunal.
According to Umaru, who is seeking to unseat Aliyu, the purported receipts of payments of a three-month salary in lieu of retirement notice of service by the governor and another receipt showing that he refunded the salary he received for February 2007 were denied by the office of Accountant General of the Federation (AGF).
Umaru, through his counsel, Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN), sought the permission of the tribunal to file two applications for an enlargement of time and amendment to his application as well as a "leave of the court to lead additional evidence pertaining to exhibits tendered: letter from the office of the Accountant General of the Federation."
But in a reaction last night in Abuja, Governor Aliyu said Umaru and his sponsors have resorted to blackmail in the face of imminent loss at the tribunal.
He alleged that "the falsehood" is being perpetuated with the support of a traditional ruler and a top federal civil servant from his own senatorial district.
The Niger helmsman, who spoke through his chief press secretary, Malam Jibrin Suleyman, explained that his resignation from his job as permanent secretary in the federal civil service satisfied all laid-down requirements.
He denied ever paying a three-month salary in lieu of notice of his retirement to the office of the Head of Service of the federation, clarifying that the said payment was made to the Ministry of Transport where he retired as permanent secretary.
Suleyman explained: "The forces bent on reversing the gains made by people of Niger State since May 29, 2007 are becoming increasingly desperate and reckless in the employment of all tricks in the book to achieve what they failed to achieve through the ballot box. And in their desperation, these enemies of progress have resorted to forgery aimed at misleading legal and public opinion on the elegibility or otherwise of the Chief Servant, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, to contest the 2007 governorship elections.
"At no time had Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu collected his salary from the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation. The governor had, therefore, no basis for paying his three-month salary in lieu of notice of his retirement from the public service to the office of the Head of Service".
"I also wish to raise questions about another letter purportedly written from the office of the Accountant General of the Federation dissociating itself from receipts issued to Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu for refund he made to the Federal Ministry of Transport. I wish to state that the payment was not made in the AGF's office, hence the office cannot be in a position to confirm the receipt or otherwise of the three-month salary in lieu of the retirement from the public service".
"The truth of the matter is that Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu paid the three-month salary in lieu of notice of his retirement to the Ministry of Transport from where he had been collecting his salary. Anybody in doubt of this claim can check with the Federal Ministry of Transport to verify our claims. The receipts in question were issued by the Ministry of Transport and NOT by the Accountant General's office. These are public documents that could be verified by anybody in doubt".
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"We are worried, however, that all these falsehoods are being peddled with the support of a traditional ruler and a top federal civil servant of Niger State origin, both of whom are from Zone B senatorial district of the state."
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