… Says Kantigi has no issue with EFCC
Gubernatorial Aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party PDP in Niger state, Liman Kantigi has said he has no case with the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) as peddled
In a statement issued on Monday by the Director Communications,
Kantigi Campaign, Sai Baba and made available to Journalists, the Organization said there was no such place where Liman Isah Kantigi was ever sued or joined in suits.
According to the statement ” Hon. Isa Kantigi has not been subjected to any criminal trial or convicted by a competent court of law. Rather it was some companies that stood trials.
It should be recalled that a group in Kaduna state addressed the press over the weekend.
Baba in the statement stated that “we want to categorically state that, those that are in the race to Niger State Government with Alhaji Liman Katingi should kindly avail themselves on the day of their party primaries and test their popularity among the delegates, rather than, trying to use the back door approach to smear the reputation of selfless and God fearing man whose only crime is presenting himself to serve his people.
“We therefore calling on the political opponents of Mr. Kantigi to face their imminent political loose in peace and stop the cheap blackmail aimed at shoring their depleted political capita.”
Director, Communications of the Campaign Organization while saying the accusers could not produce sufficient evidences, said “for the funds are “proceeds” of funds siphoned out of Niger State, at the very least, the burden is on Niger State Government to provide evidence of how much was the income and allocation of Edati Local Government in the period.
“The attempt made was a revelation that a total sum of N176,545,486, 572.71 (One Hundred and Seventy Six Billion, Five hundred and forty five million, four hundred and eighty six thousand, five hundred and seventy two naira, seventy one kobo) was allegedly the total allocation to the Ministry of Local Government in the period in which Alhaji Liman Kantigi held sway.
“However, a review of exhibit R9 supplied by the honourable Attorney General of Niger State shows that these allocation relates to something else other than specific allocation to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
“The exhibit R9 relates to Niger State Local Government Joint Account domiciled with the ministry of Finance and appears to be allocations for all the Local Government in Niger State rather than specific budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs or specifically to Edati Local Government or even allocation to Hajj Pilgrims.”
Furthermore, Baba said the Court conclusively held as follows: “In totality, I do not believe that the honourable Attorney General of Niger State has discharged the evidential burden placed on it by law in this proceedings, as to entitle to an order that the funds in the accounts of
Katah Property and Investment LTD and Sadiq Air Travel Agency LTD, should be permanently forfeited to the Niger State Government.
“I hereby refuse and dismiss the claim made by the honourable Attorney General of Niger State.
“Dissatisfied with the Judgment of the Lower Court, the Niger State Government decided to approach the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, where their Honourable Justices unanimously dismissed the Appeal and awarded a fine of N200,000 in favour of the Three respondents in a Judgement dated 18th Day of March, 2022 with Appeal Number: CA/A/453/2018.”
The statement also disclosed that: the sweeping statement by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu J of the Federal High Court was not a conviction known to law and subject to appeal at the Supreme Court owing to the fact that the statement were made without affording Hon. Kantigi a right to fair hearing.
END