Borno CJTF President battles allegation of misappropriation of 13 Hilux vehicles

By Hamza Suleiman

The President of the Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF in Borno, Mr. Lawan Ja’afar, has dismissed the allegation that he diverted 13 Toyota Hilux vehicles donated to the organisation by the state government.

Ja’afar said this while reacting to his suspension by some members of CJTF Over an allegation of misappropriation of vehicles donated to the organisation by the State Government.

Malam Bashir Abbas, the Auditor General of the Borno CJTF, a group aiding in the fight against Boko Haram in the North-East announced the suspension of the Chairman at a news conference in Maiduguri on Sunday.

He was accused of corruption and misappropriation of 13 Hilux vehicles donated by the Borno State Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for operational purposes alongside other officials of the organisation.

According to him, Ja’afar was suspended by the leadership and members of the organisation based on Article 6 Rule 2 (vi) of the CJTF Constitution.

According to him, the leadership of Borno CJTF unanimously decided to suspend Lawan Ja’afar, over the misappropriation of some Hilux vehicles given to the organisation by the Borno government for operational purposes.

“He also diverted two other Hilux vehicles given to the organisation by NNPCL for operational purposes too.

“The leadership is also announcing to the general public its decision pursuant to Article 6, Rule 1 of the CJTF Constitution, to appoint Baba Shehu Abdulganiyu as the acting President of the organisation, who doubles as the Commander of Sector 4 CJTF.

“Baba Shehu will be the leader of the organisation till a substantive leader is appointed.

“The leadership has also decided to reinstate Babakura Mustapha, Mr Abba Aji Kalli, Abba Tijjani Sadiq and Barr. Jibrin Tela Gunda who were suspended from 2022,” he said.

But in his reaction, Jafar said that his suspension cannot stand as five people cannot suspend him out of 27.

He also dismissed the allegation that he diverted 13 Toyota Hilux vehicles donated by the Borno government.

He said the vehicles were sold to all members as scraps and he also bought some of them.

(NAN)