Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno has dropped one of the names in the list submitted to the State House of Assembly for consideration as commissioner nominees.
This was revealed on Saturday, July 29, in a statement by Zulum’s spokesperson, Mallam Isa Gusau, who said his principal withdrew the name of Dr Ibrahim Yusuf Ngoshe from the previously submitted list.
The decision of Governor Zulum was communicated to the state lawmakers in a letter sent to them on Friday.
Ngoshe is a native of the Southern Borno senatorial district of Gwoza local government area.
Gusau added that the number of commissioner nominations has decreased from 18 to 17.
Gusau said further details will be provided should the need arise.
According to the statement, Governor Zulum had earlier on Friday, July 28, 2023, submitted 18 names to the Borno State House of Assembly, including that of Ngoshe, whose name was the 13th.
There is a strong suspicion that Ngoshe’s case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) influenced Zulum’s action.
Back in March, the EFCC’s zonal command in Maiduguri arraigned Ngoshe before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, on a one-count charge of criminal misappropriation to the tune of N24,000,000.00.
The charge reads: “That you, Ibrahim Yusuf Ngoshe whilst being the Principal of Mairi Islamic Senior Secondary School, Maiduguri, Borno State, between the year 2012 to 2023, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did dishonestly misappropriate the revenue generated by the School and diverted same in the establishment of your school by name Sheik Abba Aji Memorial Integrated School at Mairi Kuwait being monies meant for payment of staff salaries, additional structures and other physical projects for the school to the tune of N24,000,000.00 (Twenty Four Million Naira) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Cap.102 Laws of the Borno State of Nigeria and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.”