Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State, has alleged that Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory, is working to destroy his political career by using Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to go after members of his cabinet.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Governor made the claim on Thursday while speaking on Sunrise Daily, a programme aired on Channels Television.
He said the actions of the anti-graft agency against his government were politically motivated and linked to pressure on him and his allies to defect to the All Progressives Congress.
According to him, despite enjoying constitutional immunity, his name was mentioned in an EFCC application aimed at investigating members of his cabinet. He said the situation shows that the move is not just about his commissioners but about targeting him personally.
On Tuesday, the EFCC arraigned Yakubu Adamu, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, over alleged money laundering and terror funding amounting to N5.79 billion.
Adamu was accused of working with Ishaku Mohammed Aliyu, managing director of I.S. Makayye Investment Resources Limited, and Muntaka Duguri, who are both said to be at large, to launder N4.65 billion between June and December 2023.
During the programme, Mohammed openly accused Wike of being behind the prosecution of his cabinet members.
He said, “The president is surrounded by hooligans and charlatans who want to destroy me. Some want me to join [the APC], some don’t want – like Wike.”
“Wike is a big drag on the administration, and the president should know. I have nothing against him [Wike]. He wants to destroy me.”
The Governor also questioned Wike’s loyalty to the Peoples Democratic Party, saying he could not be aligning with the APC while claiming to be a PDP member. He recalled that a PDP faction loyal to him expelled Wike in November over alleged anti-party activities.
Mohammed said, “He is an undertaker in our party. He is not there as a genuine member of the PDP, and I fought him. I was even at the secretariat when he went there to take over.”
“You cannot be in two places at the same time. It is against the rule of nature. He [Wike] is with them [APC].”
Reacting to allegations linking him to terrorism, the Bauchi Governor described them as painful and false. He said Bauchi remains one of the most peaceful states in the north.
He said, “I am a serving governor, and my state is the most secure state in the north-east, if not in northern Nigeria. And we did this through knowledge, wisdom, and nothing of that sort [terrorian] had been associated with me.”
“But I know the shenanigans. I see the mud-slinging, people giving a dog a name to hang it. Opposition leaders like me must be destroyed; otherwise, there is no reason somebody can associate me with banditry.
And I think I need to clear myself at every level.”
I’m bothered because my name and integrity will be destroyed.
I’m a politician; a rising politician, a leader of the opposition. To be accused of terrorism, is very painful. One of my nephews was mentioned in the corruption charge, and there was nothing like that – nothing.”
Mohammed added that he has written petitions to Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney-General of the Federation, security chiefs, and members of the international community to clear his name over the allegations.
