Mohammed Lawal Shuaibu
25 July 2008
Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has been dragged before an Abuja Federal High Court to answer questions he allegedly misappropriated N32 billion realised from the sale of federal government houses in Abuja.
A non governmental organisation, called anti-corruption crusaders alleged in a suit filed yesterday that the money is missing from the "gross sum of N96billion" realised from the sale of the houses in Abuja by the former minister and his aides.
They alleged that El-Rufai abused his office and committed criminal breach of trust when he allocated "655 plots of land when he ceased to be minister from May 16, 2007 as the federal executive council was already dissolved by former President Olusegun Obasanjo."
The plaintiff counsel Mr Ogboli Charles, Osuagwu Ugochukwu and Okpara Ifianyi are seeking an order of the court declaring that the former minister and Malam Umar Abbas Ibrahim, who chaired the committee that sold the houses are liable to account for the N32billion.
They also sought an order of the court declaring that the former minister "acted corruptly and conferred an advantage to himself and family when he allocated unauthorised plots of land to his family."
The anti-corruption crusaders want the court to compel the FCT Minister Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar to revoked all allocations and re-allocation made by the defendant to "himself, family members, associates, cronies and unqualified persons."
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and its chairman Justice Emmanuel Ayoola are listed in the suit as second and third defendants for allegedly refusing to act on the offences allegedly committed by the for FCT boss.
Other defendants in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Hon Michael Kaase Aondoakaa and the FCT Minister Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar.
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well done boys, at last, a daniel is coming to the resue of the hopeless. we wish u guys success. if this ase pulls through, in the court, then nigeria and nigerians are saved, from now on. every nigerian, has an interest in every stolen funds from the public treasury, so we know that the court will entertain the law suit. i see a situation where we will be able to solve our corruption problem by ourselves. this is a key core issue to developments, in nigeria. we will watch and pray. thanks. i am as usual, G.C.