EFCC Petitioned To Investigate Taraba LG Chairman
By Chuwang Dungs, Jalingo
Some concerned citizens in Karim Lamido Local Government, Taraba State, have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over alleged financial impropriety of Bitrus Danjos, the council boss.
In a petition to the EFCC dated 23 January, 2025, written by Isa Buba, a lawyer, the concern citizens accused Mr. Danjos of “abuse of office and embezzlement of the Internal Generated Revenue and other funds of the council in the sum of N181, 402, 360.39.”
The citizens also accused the council boss of spending money without following due process.
“We are firm of Legal Consultants, Practitioners, Human Right Activist, Amnesty International Members and equally the promoters of Rule of Law and due process in Nigeria and solicitors to concerns indigenes of Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State (hereinafter referred to as our clients) and on whose instructions we write.
“Our clients informed us that they are citizens of Karim- Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State and also advocates for good governance, transparency and public accountability.
“Our clients informed us that the Honourable Chairman of Karim Lamido Local Government Council from the 4th day of January, 2024 to 8th day of January, 2025 has misappropriated the total sum of N181, 402, 360.39 from the internally generated revenue of the Local Government Council and also other funds emanating from the Taraba.
“State Government without just cause or approval from the legislative council of the local government as provided under section 35(1)&(2) of the Taraba State Local Government Law, 2000 which provides;
“(1) Subject to the provisions of this Law, the Chairman of the Local Government shall not expend an amount exceeding the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira without the approval of the Legislative Council.
“(2) The chairman of a Local Government Council shall render to the Legislative Council on monthly basis statement of statutory allocations and internally generated revenue which may accrue to the Local Government Council.”
“In line with the foregoing, the Honourable Chairman of Karim Lamido Local Government Area embezzled the aforementioned amount
without approval from the council and went ahead to cause the honourable clerk of the council to prepare a council abstract and backdated the same in order to legalize his illegal action.
Alleged illegal transactions
“On the 4th day of January, 2024 the sum of N5, 000, 000 was removed from the treasury of the Local Government Council for the alleged purchase of food items to Security.
“On the 5th day of January, 2024 the sum of N790, 000.00 was removed from the treasury of the Local Government Council for the alleged purchase of food ingredients.
“On the 8th day of January, 2024 the sum of N5, 000, 000 was removed from the treasury of the Local Government Council for the alleged security re- model.
“On the 8th day of February, 2024 the sum of N3, 500, 000.00 was removed from the treasury of the Local Government Council for the alleged Road Maintenance Karim Lamido.
“On the 13th day of February, 2024 the sum of N2, 180, 000.00 was removed from the treasury of the Local Government Council for the Participation of Bauchi trade fair.
“On the 15th day of February, 2024 the sum of N6, 000, 000.00 was removed from the treasury of the Local Government Council for the alleged Fueling of security van.
“On the 16th day of February, 2024 the sum of N4, 400, 000.00 was removed from the treasury of the Local Government Council for the alleged Feeding Regulate in LG.
“On the 20th day of February, 2024 the sum of N3, 900, 000.00 was removed from the treasury of the Local Government Council for the alleged Assistance to common men.
“On the 19th day of February, 2024 the sum of N5, 000, 000.00 was removed from the treasury of the Local Government Council for the alleged Palliative for people.
“On the 19 day of February, 2024 the sum of N685, 000.00 was removed from the treasury of the Local Government Council for the alleged Transportation of Palliative.
“On the 19th day of February, 2024 the sum of N6, 000, 000.00 was removed from the treasury of the Local Government Council for the alleged Allowance for Palliatives.
“On the 19th day of February, 2024 the sum of N6, 000, 000.00 was removed from the treasury of the Local Government Council for the alleged Palliative allowances.
On the 19th day of February, 2024 the sum of N2, 600, 000.00 was removed from the treasury of the Local Government Council for the alleged Palliatives.
“On the 19th day of February, 2024 the sum of N5, 000, 000.00 was removed from the treasury of the Local Government Council for the alleged Palliatives for our people.
On the 20th day of February, 2024 the sum of N4, 360, 000.00 was removed from the treasury of the Local Government Council for the alleged Purchase of Christmas gifts.
“On the 5th day of March, 2024 the sum of N2, 533, 115.39 was removed from the treasury of the Local Government Council for the alleged purchase of grains for displace person.
“On the 6th day of March, 2024 the sum of N2, 925, 412.00 was removed from the treasury of the Local Government Council for the alleged Security keeps- up.
“On the 14th day of March, 2024 the sum of N2, 650, 000.00 was removed from the treasury of the Local Government Council for the alleged transportation allowances for the Bauchi trade fair.
“On the 18th day of March, 2024 the sum of N3, 000, 000.00 was removed from the treasury of the Local Government Council for the alleged Construction of a road site in Karim Lamido.
“On the 3rd day of April, 2024 the sum of N3, 100, 000.00 was removed from the treasury of the Local Government Council for the alleged assistance to Muslims in Karim B Ward.
“On the 5th day of April, 2024 the sum of N1, 200, 000.00 was removed from the treasury of the Local Government Council for the alleged assistance to Muslims in Bachama Ward.
On the 5th day of April, 2024 the sum of N4, 000, 000.00 was removed from the treasury of the Local Government Council for the alleged Grading of Mutum-Daya to Karim Lamido road.” The petitioners highlighted amongst several other transactions.
Mr Buba, said his clients informed him with documents to back up their claims that the Chairman misapplied all the above mentioned resources of the Local Government Council without the approval of the legislative council as required by the law
“Our clients informed us that all the above atrocities occurred without the knowledge and or consent of the legislative council of the local government which is a flagrant violation of section 35 of the Taraba State Local Government Law.
“Our clients informed us that the Honourable Chairman in order to legalize the illegality is now moving here and there lobbying the Karim
Lamido Local Government Stakeholders to persuade the Honourable leader of the Legislative Council (Hon. Marthison Christopher) to help him sign the attached Council Abstract but the said “Marthison Christopher together with his other colleagues (councilors) refused to sign the said council abstract as there was never a resolution from them authorizing the Honourable Chairman to expend the money expended.
“More surprising is the sum of N12, 000, 000 that was allegedly used to transport 500 bags of fertilizer from Jalingo to Karim-Lamido LGA when actually the cost of transporting 700 bags of fertilizer from Lagos to Mubi, Adamawa State is less than N3, 000, 000 which distance is 50 times the distance from Jalingo to Karim-Lamido!
“It is the belief of our clients that all the claim expenditures was not done by the said chairman but only manufactured them to excused his financial embezzlement.
“In the light of the foregoing, we urge your respected office to conduct holistic investigation with the view to finding out the truth of the matter and for your necessary action,” he submitted.
When contacted Buba confirmed that he wrote and signed the petition on behalf of his clients.
He said the petition was submitted to EFCC on Monday at the Gombe command office.
“We have submitted the petition to EFCC and we are hoping that they will swing into action, we have played our role as lawyers to our clients,” he said.
Speaking to DAYLIGHT REPORTERS, Mr Danjos said he has not been served with the petition, but people drew his attention when they saw it on the social media.
“I have not been served with the petition, some people called me when they saw it circulating in the social media, so I cannot comment on the issue since, I have not received the copy of the petition officially. Thank you,” he said.
