Nigeria News
Fintiri Interrogated by Police

Adamu-Fintir

The former acting Governor of Adamawa State, Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, was invited on Thursday by the Nigeria Police Force for questioning over his stewardship when he was in charge of the state.

Some policemen were said to have stormed Yola, the state capital, on Wednesday evening from the Police Headquarters, Abuja, and reportedly invited Fintiri, who is the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, to the state police command for interrogation.

It was gathered that he was interrogated at the conference hall of the police command yesterday over allegations of misappropriation of funds during his stint as acting governor of the state.

A police source told THISDAY that further investigations on the issue were still in progress, stressing that the police were acting based on reports at their disposal. The source said after interrogating Fintiri, the police released him.

When contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, ASP Michael Haa, said he was yet to be briefed by the commissioner of police about the incident and was unaware of the interrogation.

Attempts to get Fintiri to speak on the issue proved abortive.

Meanwhile, the Adamawa branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the state governor, Bala James Ngilari to emulate Fintiri in making sure that he sustains the mutual relationship between the state government and workers in the state.

The state NLC Chairman, Dauda Maina, made the call yesterday in Yola at a workshop on eliminating corruption in the civil service organised by the state branch of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN).

Maina said Fintiri, in his 86 days as acting governor, carried the workers along and recognised their value as the engine room of the government.

“Fintiri was able to make an impact by carrying the workers along during his tenure; we hope Governor Ngilari will emulate him to avoid a crisis,” Maina said.

Maina said the workshop was timely, adding that corruption does not only involve collecting money illegally but also encompasses absenteeism from work and lack of dedication to work.

He lamented what he described as gossip and blackmail that had characterised the state civil service and urged those involved to change for the better for the civil service to be taken more seriously by the politicians.

In his speech, the state branch chairman of ASCSN, James Pukuma, who also commended Fintiri for running a labour-friendly administration, said Fintiri had left an indelible mark in the hearts of workers.

“Generations to come will continue to recount how he salvaged Adamawa workers’ two months’ salaries. They will also recount his salvation of the bastardisation of the civil service by the past administration,” Pukuma said.

While assuring the new administration of workers’ loyalty and commitment, Pukuma urged the administration to settle the three years’ leave, transport grant and entitlement of workers who had retired since 2011.

Pukuma also urged the administration to create a good working environment for the workers and the provision of the necessary working tools and training.

The Head of Service Musa Kaibo also lauded the union for its sustained good working relationship with government and advocated continuity.

Kaibo, who was represented by the permanent secretary of the state Ministry of Labour and Productivity, described the workshop as timely and promised to convey the workers’ advice and complaints to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.

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