Boni Haruna
Encyclopedia
Boni Haruna was governor of Adamawa State
in Nigeria
from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. He was a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party
(PDP).
, Zaria
.
However, an appeal court overruled the finding and reinstated Haruna.
In March 2006, Boni Haruna spoke against a third term for president Olusegun Obasanjo, saying most of the pro-third term governors were supporting it because they had something to hide.
He repeated his opposition during an April 2006 meeting of 20 state governors.
In September 2006, Governor Ahmed Yerima of Zamfara State
, Boni Haruna of Adamawa, and other senior politicians joined United States
Ambassador John Campbell to cut the ribbon launching full Visa Services at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja.
The same month, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu
, said that Boni Haruna was among 31 state governors under investigation by the commission.
In February 2007, the Adamawa State House of Assembly served Boni Haruna with an impeachment notice for alleged gross misconduct and for inability to perform the functions of office as demanded by the 1999 constitution.
(AC) party.
In April 2009, Boni Haruna said that he was dropping support for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar
, due to Atiku’s failure to listen to advice from his associates.
The split may have been due to Haruna's decision to return to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, while Atiku was still remaining with the Action Congress.
In August 2008, he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission headed by Farida Waziri over allegations of corruption while serving as governor of the State between 1999 and 2007. His application for bail was refused.
In November 2008, an Abuja
Federal High Court granted Haruna leave to travel to the United States for medical treatment, adjourning the case until February, 2009 for the accused to take a fresh plea following the EFCC's amended charges.
In May 2009, Boni Haruna was re-arraigned by the Federal Government over alleged money laundering involving N100 million, after the discovery of new evidence related to his period in office as the governor of Adamawa State.
In August 2009, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) brought a 28-count charge against Boni Haruna for forgery and illegal movement of about N150m to an unknown destination.
In October 2009, the EFCC filed 28 amended charges against Boni Haruna and three others.
In November 2009, the EFCC opposed an application by Haruna to again obtain travel documents for medical treatment in the United States
.
Haruna competed in the 9 April 2011 election for the Adamawa North Senatorial district on the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) platform. Bindo Jibrilla (PDP) defeated him, polling 75,112 votes to Haruna's 70,890 votes. The Congress for Progressive Change
(CPC) candidate, Abba Mohammed, scored 22,866.
Adamawa State
Adamawa is a state in northeastern Nigeria, with its capital at Yola. It was formed in 1991 from part of Gongola State with four administrative divisions namely: Adamawa, Ganye, Mubi and Numan. It is one of the thirty-six States which constitute the Federal Republic of Nigeria.-Geography:Adamawa...
in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. He was a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In...
(PDP).
Background
Boni Haruna was born on 12 June 1957. He studied Political Science at Ahmadu Bello UniversityAhmadu Bello University
Ahmadu Bello University is the largest university in Nigeria and second largest in Africa, second only to Cairo University, Egypt. It is situated in Zaria. It was founded on October 4, 1962 as the University of Northern Nigeria....
, Zaria
Zaria
Zaria may refer to:*Zaria, a city in Kaduna State, Nigeria*Zaria , or Zoria, the Slavic goddess of beauty*Countess Zaria of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg, a member of the Dutch royal family...
.
Governor of Adamawa State
Boni Haruna was elected to the Adamawa state governorship in April 1999, and reelected in April 2003. The 2003 result was contested by the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), which claimed massive electoral fraud. An electoral tribunal declared the election invalid.However, an appeal court overruled the finding and reinstated Haruna.
In March 2006, Boni Haruna spoke against a third term for president Olusegun Obasanjo, saying most of the pro-third term governors were supporting it because they had something to hide.
He repeated his opposition during an April 2006 meeting of 20 state governors.
In September 2006, Governor Ahmed Yerima of Zamfara State
Zamfara State
Zamfara State is a state in northwestern Nigeria. Its capital is Gusau and its Governor is Abdul'aziz Abubakar Yari, a member of the All Nigeria Peoples Party . Until 1996 the area was part of Sokoto State....
, Boni Haruna of Adamawa, and other senior politicians joined United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Ambassador John Campbell to cut the ribbon launching full Visa Services at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja.
The same month, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is a Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes such as advance fee fraud and money laundering...
(EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu
Nuhu Ribadu
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is a former Nigerian government anti-corruption official. He was the pioneer Executive Chairman of Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , the government commission tasked with countering corruption and fraud...
, said that Boni Haruna was among 31 state governors under investigation by the commission.
In February 2007, the Adamawa State House of Assembly served Boni Haruna with an impeachment notice for alleged gross misconduct and for inability to perform the functions of office as demanded by the 1999 constitution.
Subsequent career
Shortly before the April 2007 national elections, Haruni switched allegiance to the newly formed Action CongressAction Congress
The Action Congress of Nigeria , formerly known as Action Congress , is a classical liberal Nigerian political party formed via the merger of the Alliance for Democracy, the Justice Party, the Advance Congress of Democrats, and several other minor political parties in September 2006. The party...
(AC) party.
In April 2009, Boni Haruna said that he was dropping support for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar
Atiku Abubakar
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, alias Turakin Adamawa, GCON was the Vice-President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. He is a Muslim native of Adamawa State, and was an influential member of the ruling People's Democratic Party until 2006 when he switched affiliation to the Action Congress party...
, due to Atiku’s failure to listen to advice from his associates.
The split may have been due to Haruna's decision to return to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, while Atiku was still remaining with the Action Congress.
In August 2008, he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission headed by Farida Waziri over allegations of corruption while serving as governor of the State between 1999 and 2007. His application for bail was refused.
In November 2008, an Abuja
Abuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...
Federal High Court granted Haruna leave to travel to the United States for medical treatment, adjourning the case until February, 2009 for the accused to take a fresh plea following the EFCC's amended charges.
In May 2009, Boni Haruna was re-arraigned by the Federal Government over alleged money laundering involving N100 million, after the discovery of new evidence related to his period in office as the governor of Adamawa State.
In August 2009, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is a Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes such as advance fee fraud and money laundering...
(EFCC) brought a 28-count charge against Boni Haruna for forgery and illegal movement of about N150m to an unknown destination.
In October 2009, the EFCC filed 28 amended charges against Boni Haruna and three others.
In November 2009, the EFCC opposed an application by Haruna to again obtain travel documents for medical treatment in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Haruna competed in the 9 April 2011 election for the Adamawa North Senatorial district on the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) platform. Bindo Jibrilla (PDP) defeated him, polling 75,112 votes to Haruna's 70,890 votes. The Congress for Progressive Change
Congress for Progressive Change
The Congress for Progressive Change is a political party founded in Nigeria in 2009 in preparation for the April 2011 elections.It is the 63rd political party to be founded in the country and also the last political party to be registered in Nigeria....
(CPC) candidate, Abba Mohammed, scored 22,866.