Documents obtained by SIGNAL have shown how former Governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu acquired choice properties running into millions of pounds and dollars while he was governor of the state between 1999 and 2003.
Prince Abubakar Audu is the governorship candidate of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming November 21 gubernatorial polls in Kogi State. He won the primary election of the APC on August 30 amidst calls by some Nigerians that fielding him as candidate was a mockery of the ruling party’s anti-graft war.
Investigations into a case of abuse of office brought against Audu revealed and confirmed Audu’s acquisition of the said properties.
Senators representing Kogi State had petitioned the Kogi State House of Assembly seeking the prosecution of Audu for abuse of office.
A series of investigations carried out by Nigerian security and anti-graft agencies including the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) confirmed in July 2002 that a mansion located on 12301 Glen Road, Potomac, Maryland USA was acquired by Audu on 15th March 2001, for US$ 1,719,954 (one million, seven hundred and nineteen thousand, nine hundred and fifty four dollars).
Another property situated at No 25, The Bishops Avenue, London, N2 OBN was purchased by Audu for a sum of £ 1,550,000.00 (one million, five hundred and fifty thousand pounds).
A similar charge on corruption against the Kogi APC governorship candidate, saw former President Olusegun Obasanjo writing to Audu on October 5, 2001, cautioning him on some acquisitions of prime landed properties abroad while in office as governor.
Mr. Obasanjo has since confirmed that he actually wrote the letter to Audu, and that the copy of the letter obtained by SIGNAL was genuine.
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