Posted by By David Molomo, Yola on
There is a mixture of jubilation and grief within the two major political camps in Adamawa State following the arrest and arraignment of the immediate past governor, Boni Haruna, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
There is a mixture of jubilation and grief within the two major political camps in Adamawa State following the arrest and arraignment of the immediate past governor, Boni Haruna, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Haruna, a key loyalist of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, is facing a 21-count charge alongside a former aide and currently minority leader of the state House of Assembly, Mohammed Inuwa Bassie, for allegedly misappropriating N93.7 million while in office between 1999 and 2007.
The protracted battle for supremacy between the camp led by Professor Jibril Aminu and that of Atiku may have shifted to the courts as feelers from the Aminu camp indicate that there has been jubilation since Haruna was arrested on July 31.
Some of them confided in Sunday Sun that the former governor's arrest was long overdue, alleging that he plundered the economy of the state.
"Justice should be done by the anti-graft agency and the court as the defender of the common man in Adamawa State," one of them said on condition of anonymity.
They also claimed that Haruna devoted his second term in office and the state's resources to the presidential campaign project of his political mentor (Atiku) at the expense of the state assignment, adding that its resources were plundered on a presidential campaign rather than addressing its developmental needs with the federal allocation to the state.
But, the embattled ex-governor's camp expressed optimism that he will be vindicated at the end of the day if the rule of law, fairness and justice were observed, claiming that Haruna was innocent.
His former Chief Press Secretary, Abulrazak Namdas, told our correspondent that Haruna's group was not perturbed over the trial, saying he would be set free as he had no case to answer.
Namdas said his principal personally visited the EFCC office many times in the past but was not charged to court before now probably because they found he was not corrupt.
"The EFCC will not establish anything against Boni Haruna and he will eventually come out of court a free man," he said.
The Abuja Federal High Court, however, granted the duo bail on Friday.