‘I’m a Man of Integrity, Accountability,’ Allegations of Corruption in Gashua Water Project False- Ex Senate President, Lawan
A former President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan has distanced himself from allegations of corruption circulating in some quarters that he misappropriated funds meant for Gashua Water supply project in Yobe State.
Senator Lawan in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by his media adviser, Ezrel Tabiowo described himself and a man of “integrity, transparency and accountability” who has never been found wanting in his 25 years as a member of the National Assembly.
The former President of the Senate called on the media and the general public to disregard the allegations as they were politically motivated and untrue.
The lawmaker stated that the said project was attracted to Yobe State by himself in 2021 as a response to outbreak of water borne diseases which was ravaging the area then and had since ensured its funding till it was completed and handed over to Yobe State government in May 2025.
“Like any responsive representative, he facilitated the inclusion of the project in the 2021 budget in response to a dire public health emergency — rising cases of kidney diseases in Gashua and surrounding communities, which medical experts linked to contaminated water sources. His intervention was purely in the interest of his constituents, a duty he has always upheld with the utmost sense of responsibility. The project in question, which has been successfully completed was commissioned and handed over to the Yobe state government on Tuesday, 6th of May, 2025, by the Honourable Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the event,” part of the statement read.
Affirming his integrity in public office the senator recalled that he served and Chairman of Public Accounts Committee for two sessions of the Senate and was never found wanting.
The full statement reads:
The attention of the office of His Excellency, Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, Ph.D., GCON, has been drawn to spurious and unfounded allegations circulating in certain quarters regarding the purported misappropriation of funds meant for the Gashua Water Supply Project.
These claims are nothing but malicious fabrications, deliberately orchestrated by desperate individuals intent on smearing the impeccable reputation of the former Senate President.
For over 25 years of distinguished service as a Member of the National Assembly, Senator Lawan has maintained an unblemished record of integrity, transparency, and accountability. At no point in his long and illustrious career has he been summoned or investigated by any anti-graft agency in Nigeria. His sterling credentials earned him the rare privilege of serving as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts in both the 6th and 7th Senate under the leadership of the respected former Senate President, Senator David Mark.
During his tenure as Chairman of this critical oversight committee, Senator Lawan spearheaded rigorous investigations into government expenditures, ensuring judicious use of public funds. Notably, not once was he ever associated with financial impropriety, a fact that underscores the absurdity of these baseless allegations.
The Gashua Water Supply Project, which has regrettably become the subject of politically motivated falsehoods, was neither executed by Senator Lawan nor was he involved in any way in the disbursement or management of funds for the project. Like any responsive representative, he facilitated the inclusion of the project in the 2021 budget in response to a dire public health emergency — rising cases of kidney diseases in Gashua and surrounding communities, which medical experts linked to contaminated water sources. His intervention was purely in the interest of his constituents, a duty he has always upheld with the utmost sense of responsibility. The project in question, which has been successfully completed was commissioned and handed over to the Yobe state government on Tuesday, 6th of May, 2025, by the Honourable Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the event.
It is no coincidence that these allegations surface at a time when Senator Lawan’s goodwill and political influence continue to soar. Those threatened by his towering stature and the goodwill he enjoys among his people have resorted to cheap blackmail and character assassination. However, no amount of propaganda can diminish his legacy of service, nor will it distract him from his commitment to the welfare of his people.
While we are open to accepting genuine criticisms, this office will resist any attempt to defame the character of Senator Ahmad Lawan through libelous publications by mischievous elements. We hereby warn purveyors of falsehood and their sponsors to desist from further spreading these malicious claims. Failure to do so will leave us with no choice but to pursue all necessary legal avenues to protect Senator Lawan’s hard-earned reputation from reckless defamation. Enough is enough!
We urge the media and the general public to disregard these unfounded allegations and instead focus on the facts. Senator Ahmad Lawan remains a lawmaker of high integrity, and no smear campaign can rewrite his outstanding record of service to Nigeria.