New INEC Chairman Indicted In N850m TETFUND Fraud

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Professor Mahmud Yakubu as the new INEC Chairman on Wednesday. The appointment was ratified by the Council of State during its meeting yesterday. Yakubu, a professor of political history and international studies, was Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and also an expert in guerrilla warfare, terrorism and counter-terrorism. His appointment has attracted criticisms from some quarters, with some alleging that he used TETFUND to enrich himself up to the tune of N850 million, an allegation Yakubu has denied. Yakubu, who hails from Bauchi State in northeastern part of the country, is expected to resume office with immediate effect. His predecessor, Amina Zakari, has reportedly been redeployed to the Northwest, where she’ll serve as INEC commissioner. Yakubu also participated in the 2014 National Conference organised by former President Goodluck Jonathan. President Buhari has come under criticisms recently for appointing individuals with questionable character to political offices. Some of his ministerial nominees, like former governors Rotimi Amaechi and Tunde Fashola, have been accused of defrauding their respective Rivers and Lagos States during their tenure. Amaechi was recently indicted of pilfering up to N53B by a Rivers State panel of inquiry which has been probing his administration. Other INEC positions that were ratified by the Council of State yesterday are as follows: Dr. Antonla Taiye Okoosi (Kogi) – North-Central Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo (Borno) – North-East Dr. Mohammed Mustafa (Edo) – South-South Mr. Soyebi Adedeji Solomon (Ogun) – South-West.