Niger assembly orders arrest of commissioner over ’72 missing tractors’

The Niger house of assembly, on Wednesday, ordered the arrest of Kabir Abbas, commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, over “72 missing tractors” belonging to 25 LGAs.

According to NAN, the lawmakers made the recommendation in a report presented by Malik Madaki, chairman of the house ad hoc committee, in Minna, the Niger capital.

The ad hoc committee was constituted in June after a motion was moved under matters of urgent public importance, to investigate the circumstances behind the missing 72 tractors.

The lawmakers also recommended the prosecution of Dogara-ga-Allah Ventures, a company said to have handled the project involving the “refurbishment” of the tractors in 2018.

While presenting the report to the house, Madaki accused the commissioner of not following due process in awarding the contract.

He advised that the company handling the project be blacklisted from executing contracts in the state for 20 years.

The lawmaker also asked the commissioner to provide documentary evidence of all monies that had been paid to the contractor, directing that the tractors be returned to the LGAs within two weeks.

The contractor was also asked to refund the sum of N2.7 million made for transporting the tractors and also provide evidence of payment to the house.

He further said three tractors, which were repaired, should be returned to Lapai, Chanchaga, and Wushishi LGAs.

The house unanimously adopted the report presented by the committee.