DISGRACEFUL PATHERN OF UTC LOOTINGS Interestingly, no official of the state Ministry of Agriculture has set eyes on the fertilizers on which Umar claimed to have spent over N400 million. Not minding the lean purse of the state government, Umar on November 4 approved the release of N35 million as “assistance to security agencies.” On November 18, he approved the release of N27 million as “financial assistance to out-going security chiefs.” On November 3, 2014, the acting governor approved the release of N45 million for “purchase of 5 vehicles” for the Ministry of Finance. No mention was made of the make and model of the vehicles. On the same day, Umar approved for the same Ministry N16, 900,000 for “purchase of 2 Nos Toyota Hilux” trucks. On November 6, the acting governor approved the release of N8,500,000 for “deployment of securities (sic) during LG congress.” On November 10, he approved the release of another N8,500,000 for “deployment of securities (sic) to Wukari. On the same day, the acting governor approved the release of N13,285,000 for “deployment of soldiers to Karim Lamido LGA. A few days later, on November 18, he approved the release of N19 million for “deployment of security (sic) in Jalingo.” Umar is a member of the influential Islamic sect known as Izala aka Yan Izala. The movement was reportedly founded in 1978 by Sheikh Ismaila Idris in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. A top official of the movement described Umar as a “huge disgrace” to the movement. “He is a complete anti-thesis to everything the Izalla represent. His looting spree in Taraba has caused us great embarrassment. Umar should stop claiming to be a moslem. He is worse than an infidel,” submitted the official. Prior to his nomination as deputy governor, Umar, who spots a grey goatee, was a Jos-based dealer in second-hand cars. He served as a storekeeper with the United Trading Company (UTC) a feat which earned him the alias UTC. He was appointed deputy governor in early October 2012 following Danladi’s impeachment by the State House of Assembly. Three weeks after Umar’s nomination, Governor Danbaba Suntai escaped death when his aircraft crashed near Yola airport. Suntai suffered serious brain injuries requiring his evacuation to Europe and the United States. The governor’s long absence prompted Umar to nudge the lawmakers to proclaim him “acting governor.” Umar had even made spirited efforts to get the legislators impeach Suntai so he might become “full” governor. Last month, the Supreme Court reinstated Danladi as deputy governor dashing Umar’s hopes of becoming governor without standing for an election. Last week, a group Taraba Rescue Group asked anti-graft agencies to compel Umar return N14.9 billion he allegedly stole as acting governor. “We are honestly surprised at the decision by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to field the sacked acting governor. Garba Umar, as senatorial candidate for the good people of Northern Taraba,” the group said. Pointblanknews could not get Umar comment on the authenticity or otherwise of the approvals he allegedly made as acting governor. Several calls to his mobile telephone number 08034953391 were unanswered. He equally refused to respond to several text messages to his cell phone. His business and political associate, Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf also would not respond on behalf of his friend. Yusuf, whom Umar appointed Director-General of his now rested governorship campaign organization, had reportedly lined his pocket with hundreds of millions of Naira fronting for the ousted acting governor. Pointblanknews could not get Umar comment on the authenticity or otherwise of the approvals he allegedly made as acting governor. His business and political associate, Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf also would not respond on behalf of his friend. Yusuf, whom Umar appointed Director-General of his now rested governorship campaign organization, had reportedly lined his pocket with hundreds of millions of Naira fronting for the ousted acting governor
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 16:27:50 +0000
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