Ifeanyichukwu Nwannah, Gusau
There is crisis in the Zamfara State Zakkat Endowment Board over the mysterious disappearance of N100 million cash from its safe.
It was learnt that the sum was withdrawn from a new generation bank by some officials of the board to be disbursed to the less privileged in the North-West state in the spirit of the Ramadan period.
The money was kept in the office but some of the officials were surprised when they resumed the next day to discover that the cash had grown wings.
Now, the state government has set up a committee to investigate the disappearance.
A source at the Government House, Gusau said the committee has been mandated to investigate why such an amount would be kept in an office “without adequate security”.
When the disappearance was discovered, some of the top officials of the board rushed to Tudun Wada Police Station to complain that some thieves entered the board and made away with the money.
When detectives went to the office where the money was kept, wrappers of money were seen scattered everywhere in the room.
Some of the junior workers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said they didn’t believe the story that the money was stolen.
It was learnt that the board chairman, Alhaji Liman Dan Alhaji and Executive Secretary, Bashir Surajo, had informed Governor Abdulaziz Yari of the incident.
One of the junior workers said: “It is ridiculous to believe that thieves could enter where the money was kept, stole it, shared it and still left the wrappers of money in the room. It is unbelievable. You can tell a blind man that there is no oil in the soup, but you cannot tell him that there is no salt in the soup because he will taste it”.
Alhaji, Surajo and some top officials of the board were also seen at the Tudun Wada Police Station.
When approached by reporters, they declined comments.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Lawal Abdullahi, confirmed the incident.
He said that N9.5 million was reported missing but the junior officials said the amount involved was N100million.
