THE Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Maigari, has pushed back strongly against allegations that he diverted ₦16.5 billion earmarked for the emergency reconstruction of the collapsed Namnai Bridge in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State.
News Point Nigeria reports that speaking in Jalingo through his lead counsel, Ibrahim Effiong, Maigari dismissed the claims as baseless, malicious, and deliberately crafted to mislead the public.
Effiong revealed that the minister has already filed a legal action against the individual behind the accusations, a social media activist, Abdulmumuni Imam insisting that the activist not only failed to provide evidence but had also gone into hiding after making the “weighty and unfounded” allegations.
According to the counsel, issuing unverified accusations amounts to a criminal offence under the Nigerian Constitution and the Cybercrime Act, adding that Maigari’s decision to pursue legal redress is aimed at deterring the growing spread of falsehoods on social media.
Imam, in a post on his social media handle, had alleged that the minister diverted funds supposedly approved by the Federal Executive Council for the reconstruction of the collapsed Namnai Bridge.
He also claimed Maigari procured a security order instructing the police, DSS, and civil defence operatives to arrest him over his criticism of the government’s handling of the incident.
Maigari, however, insists the allegations have no basis in fact and should be disregarded by the public.
