An anti-corruption group called Advocate for Social Justice (ASJ) has demanded that the Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, provide facts and figures regarding his financial deposits declared with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). The group also wants the CCB to explain how they verified the governor’s submissions and his sources of income. ASJ claims to have documents showing that Governor Lawal should be listed as one of the richest men in Africa, with a cash deposit of $5 billion in one account alone. The group expressed concern about the state of Zamfara, which is heavily affected by insecurity, terrorism, and illegal mining. They called on Governor Lawal to disclose the details of his financial declarations to dispel any suspicions of fraud or terrorism sponsorship. If the sources of his wealth are not made public within a week, ASJ plans to mobilize Nigerians to march to the National Assembly and demand a state of emergency in Zamfara. They also want international agencies to investigate the governor’s sources of wealth. ASJ emphasized that while the governor may have immunity from prosecution, he cannot escape the revolt of the people and Nigerians. They questioned the legitimacy of the $5 billion cash balance in the governor’s personal account and raised concerns about possible money laundering, fraud, illegal mining, or terrorism sponsorship. ASJ called for proof and verification of the governor’s claims.
