Bauchi govt suspends Permanent Secretaries, 2 others for fraud

The Bauchi State Government has suspended four civil servants from service for criminal conspiracy, forgery, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds meant for the development of the state.

Those suspended include the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Higher Education, Sa’idu Abubakar; Danjuma Garba (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources); Umar Yusufu Gital (Clerk of the Bauchi State House of Assembly), and Bala Ibrahim Sabo (Chief Accountant).

The suspensions were contained in a letter addressed to the Bauchi State House of Assembly Service Commission signed by the Permanent Secretary at the General Administration Department, Office of the State Head of Civil Service, Ibrahim Adamu Gambaki.

The letter dated September 27, 2024, partly read: “The Senior Management Committee of the State Civil Service had deliberated on the investigative report of the Anti-Corruption Commission in an emergency meeting held on Friday, September 27, 2024, and recommended the immediate interdiction of the three officers.

Bauchi varsity student slumps in bathroom, dies

“However, the case of Umar Yusuf Gital (Clerk of the State House of Assembly), was referred to the State House of Assembly Commission for appropriate action.”

In a swift action on receipt of the report, the Bauchi State Civil Service Commission, at its extraordinary sitting on September 30^, reviewed the recommendations contained in the report for appropriate disciplinary action.

The commission placed the affected senior officers on immediate suspension in accordance with Section 0331 of the Bauchi State Civil Service regulations for further investigation to unearth the truth of the matter.

In his remarks, the commission chairman, Usman Abubakar, enjoined civil servants to adhere strictly to the rules of engagement and remain committed to the “ideals of good governance anchored by Governor Bala Mohammed in his tireless effort in developing the state.”

Abubakar warned that any public servant found wanting in the discharge of his statutory functions would be punished.

The Star