The Chairman of the Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Faruk Enabo, final week donated autos, 225 bikes and different empowerment objects to All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders, political coordinators and help teams throughout the state.
The donations have raised questions in regards to the propriety of a public workplace holder making substantial contributions to political actions and compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, which units limits on donations to political candidates.
The donation package deal consists of autos for coordinators throughout the state’s 21 native authorities areas, the three serving senators, eight members of the House of Representatives, the APC state chairman and the social gathering’s Kebbi Central Zonal Vice Chairman.
He mentioned the 225 bikes got to APC ward chairmen to enhance communication and grassroots political mobilisation.
Reports on the donations listed 60 saloon vehicles and two jeeps among the many autos offered.
Based on the equipped market estimates, with every saloon automotive costing at the very least N6 million, the 60 vehicles can be price at least N360 million, excluding the jeeps and different objects.
The 225 bikes had been estimated to value at the very least N337.5 million based mostly on an estimated value of N1.5 million per motorbike.
The estimated worth of the donations by the Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency chairman has exceeded the N500 million restrict set by the Electoral Act for particular person contributions to election campaigns.
Section 88(8) of the Electoral Act 2026 says a person or different entity shall not donate to a candidate greater than N500,000,000.
Section 88(10) offers a penalty for people who knowingly exceed the donation restrict.
It says: “An individual who knowingly acts in contravention of subsection (8) is liable on conviction to a fine of five times the amount donated in excess of the limit placed by the Commission.”
Enabo, whereas presenting the objects, dismissed claims that funds belonging to the pilgrims company or the state authorities had been used to finance the donations.
He mentioned the donations had been funded by means of legit enterprise actions and private assets, with help from the governor and different people.
“I used to be capable of buy all these autos and bikes by means of the help of the governor and different people.
“Some people have alleged that pilgrims’ funds were used, but I wish to state categorically that the funds belonging to pilgrims remain intact and are properly accounted for,” he mentioned.
“I want people to know that no kobo was taken from the pilgrim welfare agency. The proceeds are from my personal income, either through contract or investment. I’m not a poor man,” he added.
Giving an account of the company’s monetary operations for the 2027 Hajj, Enabo disclosed that it collected N27.9 billion from intending pilgrims and remitted N25.7 billion to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
He mentioned the stability was used to cowl pilgrims’ Basic Travelling Allowance and different native Hajj operational bills.
Lawyers, CSO name for probe
Lawyers have referred to as for public officers to be held accountable for his or her actions and urged anti-graft companies to research Enabo’s donations.
Kabiru Bala, a lawyer, mentioned the circumstances surrounding cash or objects given to a political social gathering or candidate ought to be examined to find out whether or not they amounted to donations beneath the regulation.
Bala mentioned the donor’s place as a public workplace holder additionally raised questions in regards to the supply of the assets used and whether or not the expenditure was according to the individual’s declared property.
He referred to as on anti-corruption companies, together with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Code of Conduct Bureau, to research the circumstances surrounding the donations.
Another lawyer, Tobechukwu Okoroma, expressed concern about what he described because the ineffective enforcement of legal guidelines when politicians are concerned, saying public officers don’t all the time seem like held accountable.
According to him, public stress might assist compel public officers to adjust to the regulation.
He referred to as for stronger public accountability and a system that ensures the regulation applies equally, no matter an individual’s social or political standing.
Victoria Adaji, a lawyer, mentioned the Electoral Act 2026 doesn’t explicitly outline in-kind donations or present a legally binding framework for valuing non-monetary contributions, corresponding to marketing campaign autos, billboards, printing gear and broadcast airtime.
According to her, the absence of clear definitions and valuation guidelines might permit donors to explain high-value marketing campaign help as logistical help or momentary gear loans reasonably than donations topic to statutory limits.
Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director of the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), mentioned the donations raised questions on transparency, marketing campaign financing and the boundary between public workplace and partisan political pursuits.
“A public officeholder’s political affiliation does not authorise the use of public funds, assets or influence to finance a party,” he mentioned.
Nwanguma added that Sections 91, 93 and 94 of the Act additionally tackle contributions of property, their industrial worth and monetary reporting.
“Giving vehicles instead of cash does not remove the need for scrutiny,” he mentioned.
He mentioned the authorities wanted to ascertain the independently assessed worth of the donated autos and bikes and which campaigns they had been supposed to help earlier than figuring out whether or not the statutory donation ceiling had been breached.
Nwanguma famous that Enabo had reportedly attributed the donations to legit enterprise actions and private assets reasonably than authorities or pilgrims’ funds, however mentioned the reason ought to be independently verified.
He urged the INEC to look at compliance with political financing guidelines and referred to as on related anti-corruption companies to research if proof raised considerations in regards to the diversion of public assets.
He additionally mentioned the Code of Conduct Bureau ought to look at any related asset-declaration or conflict-of-interest points.
“A big donation alone doesn’t show corruption. Equally, calling it ‘personal generosity’ doesn’t settle legit questions.
“Public office demands openness, and the same standards must apply regardless of the party involved,” Nwanguma mentioned.
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