The erstwhile Commissioners during the immediate past administration of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal have testified before the State Judicial Commission of Enquiry on the purported monetization of government vehicles during the proceedings presided by Justice Mu’azu Pindiga on Thursday.
To commission was inaugurated to examine the Sales and Auctions of Government Assets from 29th may 2015 to 29th may 2023.
The memo to that affect before the commission stated that some times in 2023 a brand new Toyota Hilux Vehicles 2020 model were acquired and issuance to the 23 former Local Government Chairmen while leaving office some time in April 2023 purportedly monetised to them under the guised of Sokoto State monetization policy.
The commissioners were Dr. Muhammad Ali Nname, the former commissioner of finance and Abdullahi Maigwandu of the ministry for local government Affairs.
Hitherto,the chairman,All Local Government Chairmen Association (ALGON),who also served as the Sokoto North Local Government Chairman,Alhaji Mustapha Shehu.
Both,the witnesses testified before the commission on a memorandum number three which concerns alleged monetizations of government official vehicles to the former local government chairmen.
The witnesses were brought before the commission to explained under what law the former administration acted to monetised the vehicles to them.
The Counsel to the Commission,Mr. Amanzi Amanzi said the commission has summoned the 23 local government chairmen during the former Aminu Waziri Tambuwal administration to appear before the enquiry on Tuesday 12,December to give their witnesses.
Amanzi states that witnesses are saying it has been a practice in Sokoto State for years immemorial that vehicles are been monetised to outgoing government officials.
“The commission of enquiry is of the opinion that monetization of vehicles is not law and as long as its not law provide for monetization of properties to outgoing government officials even if it has been practices over a 100 years ,what is illegal is illegal”.
According to him the efforts is to call each and every one to explain to the commission the bases , legality or other wise of the purported allocation of the vehicles under the alleged monetization policy.
The commission has adjourned till December 12,2023 to enable the all the former 23 local government chairmen to appear before the commission and to explain the justification why these vehicles were given to them under the monetization policy.
The process was aim at to ascertain the actual price purchased of the vehicles and find out whither there was any bases that the vehicles were allegedly monetised.