The Bauchi Concerned Indigenes for Accountability (BCIA) has issued a scathing rebuttal of recent allegations leveled against Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, by the Independent Corruption Reporting Coalition (ICRC), describing the claims as “baseless, malicious, and politically orchestrated.”
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Muhammadu Salahuddeen, the group condemned what it called “a calculated smear campaign” aimed at dragging Minister Tuggar into the murky waters of local Bauchi politics to tarnish his reputation and distract him from his critical national assignments.
“These allegations are not only false but a desperate attempt to undermine a man whose record of public service remains unblemished,” the statement said. “It is laughable and entirely implausible to suggest that an Ambassador—whose duties are diplomatic and not financial—could have orchestrated the misappropriation of funds in complex infrastructure deals like the Siemens power project or the Kano-Maradi railway.”
The group challenged the ICRC to produce any verifiable evidence or specific names involved in the alleged collusion to embezzle over N781 billion, calling the allegations “a textbook case of political blackmail lacking any shred of credibility.”
“It is convenient to throw around vague accusations and shadowy terms like ‘insiders’ without providing a single name or document. This is not accountability—it’s character assassination,” BCIA declared. “If the ICRC has evidence, let it bring it forward. Otherwise, it should stop misleading the public with concocted narratives.”
The group also dismissed claims that Minister Tuggar failed to advocate for the inclusion of Bauchi State in the Kano-Maradi railway project. It emphasized that Tuggar neither designed nor awarded the project and cannot be held responsible for decisions taken by other arms of government.
“To blame a diplomat for the scope of a domestic railway project is not just ignorant—it is dishonest. These accusations reflect either a deep misunderstanding of governance or a deliberate attempt to deceive the public.”
BCIA further warned against the rising trend of shadowy civil society organizations being used as fronts for political hit jobs.
“The ICRC’s conduct raises serious questions about its own integrity. Civil society must never become a tool for vendetta politics,” the group stated. “Nigerians must be alert to such tactics designed to distract us from the real work of governance and national development.”
Reaffirming its support for Minister Tuggar, the group concluded: “We stand firmly with a man of honour and principle. These cowardly attacks will not derail his commitment to serving Nigeria. The public must see through this charade and focus on building institutions, not tearing down individuals who have proven their worth.”
