Advocates urges swift action on corruption allegations against Bauchi officials
By Ahmed Ahmed
A coalition of legal and civil society advocates under the banner of Lawyers for the Cause of Bauchi (LAWBA) has called for immediate action and heightened transparency in handling corruption allegations involving top officials in the Bauchi State Government.
In a joint statement released in Bauchi by the Vice Chairman Barrister Usama Kabiru Adams made available to newsmen on Tuesday.
LAWBA identified key figures, including the Secretary to the State Government and the Accountant General, as individuals facing serious allegations of financial misconduct.
The group expressed concern over what it described as a trend of “selective prosecution” by anti-corruption agencies, warning that such practices erode public trust and compromise justice.
LAWBA demanded that any indicted officials be suspended or asked to resign pending the outcome of investigations and legal proceedings.
“A credible and fair trial process is impossible with the accused still occupying powerful government positions,” the statement read.
The group also raised alarms over political implications, cautioning that Governor Bala Mohammed’s rumored defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) could derail accountability efforts and shield implicated officials from prosecution.
Welcoming a recent Supreme Court decision affirming the applicability of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act at the state level, LAWBA pledged to actively use the law to obtain public records and hold officeholders to account.
They encouraged citizens and civil society actors to do the same in the interest of good governance.
