An audit investigation has revealed that the Permanent Secretary of the Kebbi State Ministry of Commerce, Ahmed Umar Yarima, alongside four other public officials, allegedly did not repay a loan of N2.19 billion borrowed from the state treasury in 2023. This information is contained in the 2023 State Auditor General Report, reviewed by Chronicles Reporters on Friday.
According to the report, the funds were allocated to the officials as “Special Imprest” and were due for repayment by December 31, 2023. However, it was alleged that none of the officials provided any explanation for their failure to return the funds to the state treasury.
The officials implicated in the report include Kudirat Shu’aibu Diri, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment; Bello Yahaya Geza; Aminu Musa; and Yakubu Muhammed Yauri. Among them, Bello Yahaya Geza was noted to have been appointed as one of the 21 new permanent secretaries by the state governor in July 2024.
Breakdown of Allocations
The audit report disclosed the specific amounts received by each official. Ahmed Umar Yarima reportedly obtained N980 million, while both Bello Yahaya Geza and Kudirat Shu’aibu Diri were allocated N85 million each. Aminu Musa received N60 million, and Yakubu Muhammed Yauri was granted N980 million.
Regulatory Breaches
The report cited violations of financial regulations No. 1101-1108, which mandate that all standing imprests must be retired by the end of the financial year. For each case, the audit provided the following details:
- Ahmed Umar Yarima: “An examination of financial records for the period under review revealed that N980 million, allocated as Special Imprest to Ahmed Umar Yarima, remains unrefunded. This contravenes financial regulation No. 1101-1108. The accounting officer has been informed, and a response is awaited.”
- Bello Yahaya Geza: “N85 million allocated as Special Imprest to Bello Yahaya Geza was not refunded, contrary to financial regulation No. 1101-1108. The accounting officer has been informed, and a response is awaited.”
- Kudirat Shu’aibu Diri: “N85 million allocated as Special Imprest to Kudirat Shu’aibu Diri remains unrefunded. This violates financial regulation No. 1101-1108. The accounting officer has been informed, and a response is awaited.”
- Aminu Musa: “N60 million allocated as Special Imprest to Aminu Musa was not refunded, contrary to financial regulation No. 1101-1108. The accounting officer has been informed, and a response is awaited.”
- Yakubu Muhammed Yauri: “N980 million allocated as Special Imprest to Yakubu Muhammed Yauri remains unreturned. This contravenes financial regulation No. 1101-1108. The accounting officer has been informed, and a response is awaited.”
The report has called for explanations from the respective accounting officers, but as of now, no official response has been made public.
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