No longer my in-law, Buhari says of wanted Kumo, former MD of Mortgage Bank

President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that the former Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Dr.Gimba Yau Kumo,
declared wanted by anti-graft agency, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), over an alleged $65 million fraud, is no longer his in-law.

Kumo, has, however, denied any involvement in an alleged misappropriation and diversion of National Housing Fund (NHF) monies.

A statement by a Presidential spokesman, Mr. Garba Shehu, disowning Kumo reads: “A running story to the effect that the ICPC has declared “an inlaw of the President” wanted in connection with fraud involving the large sum of money , USD65 million to be exact.This should normaly be an affirmation that our anti-corruption agencies/institutions are truly independent and allowed unfettered freedom by the President. Which infact is the case.

“That a state institution can issue such is a measure of the administration’s commitment to accountability, equality and justice.

“To set the records straight, the person declared wanted by the ICPC is not an inlaw to President Buhari.

“While at some point in time the said fugitive from justice had been linked to a family member in marriage, that relationship has ended some years ago. It is therefore unfortunate to bring the Presidents family into this case. It is in our view an attempt to generate views and sell copies of sensational reporting.

“The President’s position at all times is that the law be allowed to take its course. As is well known of him, President Muhammadu Buhari will not provide any cover for crime, no matter who is involved.

ICPC declared Gimba Yau Kumo, wanted in connection with an alleged $65 million fraud.

In a notice published, on Thursday, Azuka Ogugua, spokesperson of the anti-graft commission, said Kumo was declared wanted alongside Tarry Rufus and Bola Ogunsola for alleged misappropriation and dispersion of national housing funds.

Kumo, a former managing director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, married Fatima, the president’s daughter, in 2016 at Daura, Katsina state.

“The persons whose pictures appear above, Mr Tarry Rufus, Mr Gimba Yau Kumo and Mr Bola Ogunsola, are hereby declared WANTED by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in connection with issues bordering on misappropriation of National Housing Funds and diversion of the sum of Sixty Five Million dollars ($65,000,000),” the ICPC said.

“Anyone who has useful information on their whereabouts should report to ICPC Headquarters Abuja, any of the ICPC State Offices or the nearest police station.”

In April, the Senate Committee on Public Accounts summoned Kumo to explain the alleged irregular award of N3 billion contract when he was still at the bank.

But Dr Kumo told journalists on Wednesday that the ICPC failed to follow the right process of investigation before going public about their claims.

The parties were to be invited with required documents and a fair hearing before any accusation or publication is released, he said6.

He said he was not at any time invited or given a fair hearing before the allegations were published.

According to him, the recent allegations of misappropriation of NHF’s monies and diversion of $65,000 000 is “unimaginable”, stressing that all his corporate engagements were properly approved with documents to prove.

He further noted that he had not at any point been involved in any form of misappropriation, instead he had continue to manage his business since after leaving as the Managing Director of FMBN.

Dr Kumo said his company had empowered younger Nigerians, providing them with opportunities to become frontline enterpreneurs and as a result, helping to boost the nation’s economy.

He advised the perpetrators of the allegations to follow due process.

He promised to give ICPC all necessary cooperation, including providing documents, to prove his innocence