Former government officials of Zamfara have clarified issues surrounding the alleged missing N70 billion from the state government’s account.

The former Commissioner of Finance and Economic Planning, Rabiu Garba, and former Commissioner of Information, Ibrahim Dosara, made the clarification on Thursday while briefing the media in Abuja.

They described the allegation against former Governor Bello Matawalle of the state as an act of mischief and campaign of calumny on the part of the present government led by Governor Dauda Lawal.

According to Mr Garba, the state government terminated Avic International Engineering Nig Ltd’s contract and asked it to return N4.5 billion.

“The company’s contract was terminated, and the company was asked to refund N4.5 billion for work allegedly not done.

“It is not true that money was paid without due process.

“They have revoked the contract illegally, and it was awarded to friends and cronies of the current government,” he alleged.

Mr Garba further alleged that the contract was initially awarded for about N25 billion and had now been jacked up to N50 billion after the contract was terminated.

He said the company had taken the state government to court.

“The allegation that the contract was illegally awarded by the former government of Alhaji Bello Matawalle is false.

“EFCC went to banks and asked about the contract we executed. The court stopped them from further investigation because they don’t have jurisdiction as it relates to the state funds.

“The former chairman of EFCC came to a conclusion that the funds were diverted from the companies to private pockets without knowing that those companies executed contracts on various projects.

“But he came out to say that the state government diverted N70 billion to 100 private companies for his personal use, which is absolutely untrue,” he said.

The ex-finance commissioner explained that the issue of N70 billion did not arise because N30 billion was for 14 local governments while the remaining N40 billion was for the state government.

On his part, Mr Dosara said Mr Matawalle left the state better than what it is today.

He alleged that insecurity had increased since the present administration came into office on May 29.

He urged Mr Lawal to concentrate on delivering good governance rather than engaging in unsubstantiated allegations.

(NAN)