I Didn’t Cornered N390m ZIP Funds – Danjuma Laah

Senator Danjuma La’ah, who represented Kaduna South Senatorial District during the 8th and 9th Assembly, has firmly dismissed allegations about his involvement with the N390 million allocated for the Kaduna South Senatorial District ZIP Capital Project Funds.

The statement was issued by his former aide on Project Monitoring, Alhaji Yahaya Suleiman, on Thursday, October 24, 2024, in Kaduna.

In the detailed statement, Yahaya asserted that Senator La’ah had no connection—direct or indirect—with any companies that executed projects during his tenure. His primary responsibility, he emphasized, was to oversee project execution and ensure compliance with contractual specifications, challenging anyone with contradictory evidence to come forward.

This response aims to counter false information circulated by a few online news outlets regarding Senator La’ah, also known as Shettiman Kagoro. The senator has received numerous inquiries from friends and supporters seeking clarification on these claims.

Yahaya expressed disbelief that a former senator could allegedly enter government agencies to collect funds for contracts executed during his term, questioning the understanding of governance regulations among officials.

He also pointed out inaccuracies in the reporting, specifically noting that no such road as Zangon Kataf – Kwali exists in the Kaduna South Senatorial Zone. During both the 8th and 9th Assemblies, there was never a project involving the development of livestock housing at the National Livestock Training Center in Kachia included in La’ah’s constituency projects—calling it a complete fabrication.

Regarding the Rehabilitation/Reconstruction of the Kwoi – Kafanchan road, Yahaya clarified that the contractor, MOFTREH CONSTRUCTION Nigeria Ltd, can be verified through the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). He emphasized that Senator La’ah’s role was solely to ensure the proper execution of the contract, which was a maintenance project, not a reconstruction—debunking claims that the senator profited from it.

He highlighted that from the N200 million allocated, taxes amounting to 17.5% would be deducted, leaving the contractor with a maximum of N175 million, which could not have involved Senator La’ah.

Yahaya encouraged anyone doubting the claims to visit the Kaduna Zonal Office of the Nigerian Building, Road and Research Institute (NIBRRI), the official body overseeing the project, to verify the quality of the work completed.

He also noted that other contractors and government agencies were involved in the Kwoi-Kafanchan road during the same period, further distancing Senator La’ah from the allegations.

Yahaya criticized the original writer of the article for their lack of understanding and urged them to approach the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for proper investigation rather than disseminating unverified claims online.

He concluded by revealing that an investigation into the writer’s identity uncovered no legitimate office or working phone number linked to the accusations, suggesting a deliberate attempt to tarnish Senator La’ah’s reputation without accountability.