The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited former Governor of Nasarawa State and serving senator, Tanko Al-Makura, and his wife, Mairo, over alleged corruption.
Al-Makura is also showing interest in contesting the post of national chairman of the ruling party, All Progressive Congress (APC) in its forthcoming national congress.
A source at the commission disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday evening.
As of the time of filing this report, the couple were being grilled by operatives of the anti-graft agency at its headquarters in Abuja.
The source did not give details of the allegation against the ex-governor and his wife.
Spokesperson of EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren when contacted by NAN declined comment on the couple’s arrest.
Al-Makura was the Governor of Nasarawa State between 2011 and 2019 before he was elected as Senator representing Nasarawa South Senatorial District at the National Assembly.
Al-makura according to Wikipedia, was born around 1952 in Lafia, Nasarawa State as a member of the Gwandara ethnic group. He attended Dunama Primary School, Lafia (1959–1966), Keffi Teacher’s College (1967–1971) and then Government Teachers College of Education, Uyo (1972–75). For a short period in 1975 he was an Assistant Producer at the Broadcasting Corporation of Northern Nigeria. He then went to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1975–1978), graduating with a Bachelor of Education Degree. For his National Youth Service he was a teacher at the Government College, Makurdi.
In 1978 he formed Almakura Nigeria Limited, importing and servicing agricultural and industrial machinery. Later he ventured into real estate and property development as owner and chairman of Ta’al Nigeria Limited, with properties in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Wash
In 1980, Almakura became the youth leader of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the old Plateau State. He was elected to the constitution Assembly of 1988–89, representing the Lafia–Obi Federal Constituency of what is now Nasarawa State. He was state secretary of the National Republican Convention (NRC) party in Plateau State from 1990 to 1992. Al-makura was a founding member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State in 1998.
Al-Makura has an estimate net worth of $290 million and he defected from the PDP after losing the primary elections for the Nasarawa Governor competition. Al-Makura was elected Governor of Nasarawa State, Nigeria on 26 April 2011, running on the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) ticket. He defeated the incumbent governor, Aliyu Akwe-Doma of the PDP.