How Code Of Conduct Tribunal Discovered Yobe Governor’s N3billion Property, N2billion Secretly Stored In 11 Bank Accounts

The assets declaration form presented to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) by Yobe State Governor and Caretaker Committee Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Mai Mala Buni, has yawning gaps.

Buni acquired various buildings in Abuja, Kano, Borno, Kaduna, and Yobe states valued at N3.1 billion between 2015 and 2019 while acting as the APC’s National Secretary, according to a form completed on May 23, 2019, and exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters.

According to the governor’s assets form, he claimed possession of a five-bedroom duplex in Kaduna State’s Tafawa Balewa Way, which he purchased for N75 million on August 15, 2018. Buni also said that he owns a five-bedroom flat on Court Road, Grace Yard, Karu Abuja, which he purchased for N60 million in 2016.

The governor also listed a six-bedroom duplex with conference room that he purchased for N150 million in 2019. The address of the building is 146 Cadastaral, Zone A03, Garki, Abuja.

He also has a five-bedroom duplex in Kano’s Kwakwasiya Housing Estate, No 101. He told the CCB that he paid N37.447 million for it.

The governor also revealed that he has a four-bedroom duplex at No 11, Chartown Street, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, which he purchased in 2018 for N150 million.

Buni, a man with no known business interests other than being a politician, owns a three-story building with a penthouse at No 22, Asika Street, Asokoro, Abuja. This, he said the CCB, was purchased for N1.3 billion on December 6, 2016.

In 2015, the governor purchased another four-bedroom duplex at N55 million.

He has an 18-room property at No 1, Ibrahim Close, Damboa Road, Maiduguri, Borno State, which he purchased for N50 million on May 31, 2015.

The APC Caretaker Chairman also acknowledged ownership of two Maiduguri filling stations that he purchased for N280 million in 2018. His property also included a three-bedroom flat near the School of Health in Maiduguri, which he purchased for N25 million in 2016.

Buni also paid N700 million for a landed property at 151 Cadastral, Zone D in Abuja. He told the CCB that he bought it in 2016.

The governor also listed other properties in Damaturu, Maiduguri, Kano, and Abuja that cost N2 million, N5 million, N8 million, N10 million, and N20 million each.

He also stated at the time that the property produced no annual rent income.

Buni stated that he has N1.3 billion in his Keystone bank account (1004339343) as of May 23, 2019. He claimed to have N439 million in his Zenith bank account (1014214784).

In addition, the governor claimed to have N912 million in his Fidelity bank account (5600287335). He also stated that his Access bank account (0807440003) has 95 million dollars in it.

Buni also revealed to the CCB that he had millions of naira in eight other accounts.

He also claimed to be the proud owner of over 20 vehicles worth millions of naira, which he acquired through personal savings/loans and the assistance of friends.

A source at the CCB previously told SaharaReporters that the agency’s inquiry into what he called the governor’s anticipatory declaration had progressed far.

“They are doing everything to cover the scandal up but investigation is really ongoing. Even though his associates are doing everything to cover up the scandal, we believe President Muhammad Buhari won’t interfere and ensure proper probe of the scandal in line with his claims of zero tolerance for corruption,” the source had told SaharaReporters.

SaharaReporters had on Monday exclusively reported how spirited efforts by the governor and his backers to cover up the scandal failed last week when his pre-tenure form (form CC81) which was deposited at CCB on May 23, 2019 got leaked to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Department of State Security Services and the National Intelligence Agency.

“Though he has immunity but he committed offences contrary to Section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap C15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 which are punishable under Section 23 (2) of the same Act,” a government house source had told SaharaReporters.

An analysis of the document submitted by the governor showed that He declared having N2billion as cash in six Nigerian banks.

Further checks showed that the accounts are being operated by one firm, MDG construction and general company limited.

Buni, in the document, however, claimed to have no cash in foreign accounts.

Despite claiming his two main source of income were farming and business, a closer look at the document revealed that the governor declared 25 buildings in Abuja, Kano and Yobe states valued at N3.1billion.