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Shema, Others To Face Commission Of Inquiry In Katsina Over Missing N10b SURE-P Funds

In an effort to recover money and properties that were alleged to suffer under the regime of the former governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, from 2011 to 2015, the Commission of Inquiry established for that purpose resolved to issue service to the former governor.

In an effort to recover money and properties that were alleged to suffer under the regime of the former governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, from 2011 to 2015, the Commission of Inquiry established for that purpose resolved to issue service to the former governor.

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The Commission had already invited the former Commissioner of Finance under the Shema administration, Lawan Jari, and as a result directed for substituted service on him.  

Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Suraj, who is the chairman of the Commission, gave the directive when the memo on the activities of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Program (SURE-P), written by the Katsina State government, was brought before the Commission.

"Former Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema should be served with the memo through substituted service by pasting notice at his personal residence in both Katsina municipal and Dutsinma town," he said.

He therefore ordered the Commission also to publish the notice in two national dailies.

Mr. Shema and his finance commissioner, Lawal Jari, alongside over thirty others, were mentioned as respondents on the memo, which accused them of allegedly mismanaging N10 billion in SURE-P funds.

The directive for substituted service to Mr. Shema and Mr. Jari was put in place due to the inability of serving the duo with earlier service, while at the same time many were served effectively.  

While dismissing the counsels of some respondents on challenging the competence of the Commission, the body assured that it would work in accordance with rules and regulations and without any partiality.

The team of those counsels was led by Ahmed Abdulmajid, who filed an application opposing the continued sitting of the Commission.

In the application, Mr. Abdulmajid sought five reliefs, including that the Chairman of the Commission, who is a High Court judge in Plateau State, lacked territorial jurisdiction to preside over the Commission.

Ruling on the application, Justice Suraj, who addressed the reliefs one after the other, said all the reliefs failed, noting, "the application is hereby dismissed."

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Corruption Legal