Gov. Bello Asks EFCC To Probe $181m Islamic Development Bank (IDP) Loan

The Niger State Governor Sani Bello, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC to probe the $181m Islamic Development Bank (IDP) loan initiated by his predecessor Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu.

The Governor called on the anti-graft agency to probe his administration’s handling of the IDP loan following the allegation of financial misappropriation levied by the past governor of the state, Babangida Aliyu.

It was gathered that the immediate past governor had raised the allegation of misappropriating the loan by the current administration about two weeks ago.

The former governor stated that the loan was meant for the dualization of the Minna-Bida road and wondered why the government did not utilize the money for the purpose it was meant for and urged people of the state to demand explanation over the loan.

Aliyu about two weeks ago declared,”I went to Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to seek an interest-free loan to dualize the Minna-Bida road, but by the time the Money came I have left office in 2015.”

“Till now, the road project has not started and people should know whereabout the money or official statement on the road project. However, during the official flag-off of the 2019 local government council election campaign in Minna yesterday, Governor Sani Bello declared that none of such money had entered into the coffers of government.

“We did not meet any money in government account when we came into office neither has there been any money of such received by the government.

“For this, we are inviting the EFCC to come and probe this government and the other government to see who is lying among us. But I still say that we did not meet anything in the account. EFCC should come and find out if the money as been released from that time till now,” he declared.

“The National and State Assembly has approved the loan but they are yet to receive it. The money has not been released but if Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu said it has been released, EFCC should come and investigate who has taken the money,” he said.