The Bauchi State Scholarship Board has uncovered a N20 million fraud, Permanent Secretary of the board, Alhaji Yusuf Yerima Gamawa has said. He said this yesterday when a former student, Malam Nuruddeen Yakubu Mohd, who said he was wrongly paid returned the sum of N25,500 to the board.
The permanent secretary applauded the action of the man, who returned the bursary allowance he was paid because he is no longer a student. It was gathered that the man was paid the allowance meant for students even though he is now on national service at the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi.
Gamawa said four staff of the board in collaboration with outsiders defrauded the board, adding that the matter has been referred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for investigation.
Also speaking, the chairman of the board, Alhaji Muhammad Kulloma Hardawa, said efforts will be intensified to sanitize the board. He commended Nuruddeen for returning the money, and expressed hope that others would emulate him.
Speaking earlier, Mallam Nuruddeen Yakubu said his decision to return the money to the state government was motivated by the need to show example, and contribute to the growth of the state.