‘Shema shared N680m to security operatives for 2015 polls’

FORMER Aide-De-Campto former Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State, Superintendent Sheu Kokoh, on Tuesday claimed that N680,285,000.00 was shared among officers as well as rank and files of security operatives in the state for logistics and allowances for the  2015 general elections.

The security operatives who shared the money were allegedly drawn from the Nigerian Army, the police, the Department of State Services,  the Nigeria Customs, the Nigeria Immigration Services, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps  as well as the Federal Roads Safety Corps.

Kokoh made the disclosure while testifying before the Commission of Inquiry set up by the state to probe the Shema regime.

He explained that the money was released to him by the former Commissioner For Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sani Makana, allegedly on Shema’s directive.

The police officer told the commission of inquiry that, on March 26, 2015, the former governor conveyed a security meeting with all the security chiefs in attendance.

According to him, the security chiefs , after the meeting, approached him for payment for logistics and allowances for the election, upon which he sought clarification from former governor Shema.

Kokoh said  after getting the money from the former commissioner as directed, he paid it out to the security operatives on March 27, 2015 and April 10, 2015.

Kokoh gave the list of the officers and men of the security operatives, as well as what each collected, to the commission, which was marked as exhibit.

Among the officers mentioned by Kokoh to have benefitted from the money were the General Commanding Officer for the Military in Katsina, who, he said, allegedly collected N34.110m twice on March 27 and April 10. 2015.

He added that the Director of DSS collected N78m twice on March 27 and April 10, 2015.

Others  are the state commissioner of police, N10m; the deputy commissioner of police in charge of operation, N3.5m; the assistant police commissioner (CID), N3m; the assistant police commissioner(Border Patrol), N3m; the comptroller of customs, N8m; and the comptroller of immigration services, N10m.

He added that the NDLEA commander collected N10m; the comptroller of prisons, N8m;  the FRSC sector commander, N8m; and the NSCDC deputy commandant, N5m; as well as his two deputies , who Kokoh said received  N1m each.

When asked whether the money shared out was budgeted for in the 2015 state budget, Kokoh said he was not involved in the making of the  budget ,pointing out that all he did was to act on instruction.

The Commission Chairman, Justice Muhammed Sirajo, consequently fixed October 26,2016 for the adoption of addresses by all the parties involved in the memo.