Former Minister Accused of Corruption Inaugurated Into Nigerian Railway Corporation Board
Oru Leonard
A Former Minister of Commerce during President Shehu Shagari regime, Senator Bello Maitama- Yusuf, who was accused of corruption by the Buhari military administration in the early 1980s, has been inaugurated into the Board of the Nigerian Railway corporation.
The board was inaugurated on Thursday by the Minister of Transportation, Rt Hon. Rotimi Amaechi. It was not clear whether the Minister knew the records of the newly inaugurated NRC Board member.
Senator Yusuf in 1979, served as the Minister of Internal Affairs in Shehu Shagari”s administration and later as Minister of Commerce in 1982. He and then minister of transport (Late Umaru Dikko), topped the list of fugitives wanted by the Buhari military administration for alleged corruption.
He went into exile with his cronies and decades later, he has now been appointed to the railway board that has Ibrahim Alhassan as chairman.
Other members are Kayode Opeifa, head of transportation secretariat of of the Federal Capital Territory; former police AIG Umar Ambursa; Professor Obiaraeri Nnamdi, Rt. Hon Gabriel Edi among others.
He was nominated by Governor Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa State, the governor’s aide on new media, Auwal Sankara, confirmed it in a Facebook post.
The appointment letter obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, reads: “Pursuant to section 5 of the Nigerian Railway Corporation Act cap. N129, LFN2004, and all powers enabling the Honourable Minister of Transportation in that behalf, and consequent upon your nomination by the governor of Jigawa State.
“I am pleased to inform you of your appointment by the Honourable Minister, as a member of the Directors of Nigerian Railway Corporation.”
Mr Sankara said the appointment was a recognition of “hard work, resilience and steadfastness” of Mr Yusuf in the progress of APC and development of Nigeria and Jigawa State.
