The Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to Nigeria’s anti-corruption, intelligence, and oversight agencies to commence what it described as a credible and transparent investigation into the acquisition of a controlling stake in Geregu Power Plc allegedly linked to former Zamfara State Governor and serving Senator, Abdul’Aziz Abubakar Yari, as well as longstanding allegations of illegal mining and unexplained wealth surrounding the lawmaker.
In a strongly worded statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Israel Uwejeyan, the youth organization said recent reports concerning the acquisition of Geregu Power Plc through MA’AM Energy Limited, reportedly associated with Senator Yari and members of his family, have raised serious questions that demand immediate scrutiny by relevant authorities.
According to the NDYC, the transaction, reportedly valued at over one trillion naira, has generated widespread public concern regarding the source of financing and whether such wealth is consistent with publicly known records and asset declarations associated with the Senator.
The organization stressed that while legitimate business success should be encouraged, transparency becomes a matter of national interest when questions arise concerning the accumulation of extraordinary wealth by politically exposed persons.
The group further drew attention to what it described as persistent allegations linking individuals believed to be close to Senator Yari to illegal mining operations and gold trading activities in Zamfara State. The NDYC noted that although such allegations remain unproven, the recurring nature of the claims makes a comprehensive investigation necessary to establish the facts.
The Congress argued that allegations relating to illegal mining cannot be treated lightly given the growing concerns over mineral theft, environmental degradation, revenue losses, economic sabotage, and the alleged connection between illicit mining networks and insecurity across parts of the country.
The NDYC specifically called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, the Code of Conduct Bureau, mining regulators, security agencies, and the leadership of the National Assembly to launch what it termed a coordinated and transparent investigation into Senator Yari’s financial interests, corporate holdings, mining activities, asset declarations, and related business transactions.
In one of the most significant aspects of the statement, the NDYC alleged that companies publicly associated with Senator Yari, including AJAP Financial Resources Limited, should be investigated over what it described as suspicious financial transactions running into billions of naira. The organization specifically alleged that transfers of ₦1 billion and multiple transfers of ₦500 million were made to Abdulkarim Tsafe, identified by the group as Senator Yari’s former Chief of Staff, and claimed that such transactions warrant scrutiny under Nigeria’s anti-money laundering framework. The NDYC urged investigators to independently verify the claims and determine whether any laws were violated.
The youth organization maintained that the objective of any investigation should not be to prejudge guilt but to establish the truth through facts, evidence, and due process.
Giving authorities a 14-day deadline from the date of its statement, the NDYC warned that failure by relevant agencies to publicly commence investigations would compel the organization to pursue legal remedies aimed at forcing accountability from both the agencies involved and the Federal Government.
“The collective wealth and resources of our country must never become a vehicle for private enrichment at the expense of the public interest,” the organization stated, insisting that Nigerians deserve full transparency regarding the acquisition of strategic national assets and the source of wealth of politically exposed persons.
The group emphasized that its demand should not be interpreted as a declaration of guilt against Senator Yari. Rather, it argued that a credible investigation would either clear the Senator’s name or uncover evidence warranting legal action.
The NDYC also said the matter presents a major test of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to fighting corruption, arguing that the government’s response will be closely watched by Nigerians and the international community as a measure of whether anti-corruption efforts are being applied fairly and without political considerations.
Declaring that “the era of untouchable political figures must come to an end,” the organization announced that it is finalizing a formal petition to be submitted to the EFCC, ICPC, DSS, NFIU, Code of Conduct Bureau, the National Assembly, and other relevant authorities seeking a full-scale investigation into the allegations.
“The Nigerian people deserve answers. The law demands accountability. The institutions of the Federal Republic must rise to the occasion,” the NDYC concluded.