A good governance and accountability advocacy group, Transparency Watch, has dismissed allegations of corrupt enrichment levelled against Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, describing the claims as the handiwork of mischief makers.
In recent weeks, Senator Yari, who represents Zamfara West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, and his business interests have reportedly come under scrutiny from groups claiming to be acting in the public interest.
One such group, identified as the Zamfara Concerned Youth Assembly for Peace Advocacy, had alleged that the former Zamfara State governor amassed sudden wealth and invested in firms including Geregu Power Plc and Amperion Power.
However, in a statement issued by its Director of Public Affairs, Cliff Richards, Transparency Watch said its independent review of the allegations found no evidence to support the claims.
According to the group, the accusations amounted to speculation and lacked factual backing.
“As good governance and accountability advocates, our attention was recently drawn to a release from a group that goes by the name Zamfara Concerned Youth Assembly for Peace Advocacy, wherein it accused Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari of running into sudden wealth and investing in electricity companies like Geregu Power Plc and Amperion Power,” the statement said.
Transparency Watch stated that a closer examination of the allegations showed that Senator Yari’s accusers failed to provide documentary evidence linking him to any wrongdoing.
“The allegations are not only hollow, they are products of hearsay. The group even admitted that Senator Yari’s name did not appear in any of the documents released after the investigation, yet it demanded that he should be probed by security agencies,” the statement added.
The organisation further argued that Senator Yari has no known record of financial crime during or after his tenure as governor of Zamfara State and noted that he is not currently under investigation by anti-corruption agencies.
Transparency Watch maintained that, as a private citizen, Senator Yari is entitled to pursue legitimate business investments that could contribute to economic development.
It described criticism of his investment decisions as an attempt to tarnish his reputation and urged those behind the allegations to channel their efforts into more constructive engagement.