The Yobe State House of Assembly has come under sharp criticism for what many describe as its ignoble handling of allegations surrounding Damuli Investment, a limited liability company reportedly awarded billions of naira in state contracts.
Damuli Investment, long familiar within Governor Mai Mala Buni’s administration, was accused by elders of Gujba Local Government of abandoning the construction and renovation of the Gujba Government Lodge despite receiving ₦1.49 billion in full payment. Their petition, dated July 1, 2025, urged the Assembly’s Committee on Human Rights and Legislative Compliance to investigate.
Under public pressure, lawmakers set up a five-man ad hoc committee chaired by Hon. Adamu Dala Dogo on August 5. The committee’s findings were damning: of 32 contracts awarded to Damuli Investment, only one—a ₦40.3 million apartment renovation at Yusufari Specialist Hospital—was fully completed. The Gujba lodge showed only 10 percent progress. Renovations at six general hospitals—Damaturu, Potiskum, Nguru, Gashua, Damagun, and Geidam—costing a combined ₦5.55 billion stalled at 25 percent. Drainage and road projects in Bade, Damagun, and Potiskum, worth hundreds of millions, also remained far from completion.
Yet, despite these revelations, the committee’s final report inexplicably gave Damuli Investment a “clean bill of health,” sparking outrage and suspicion that political pressure or backroom deals influenced the outcome. Critics point to the Assembly leadership’s silence and allege possible collusion with the executive branch.
Governor Buni now faces calls to distance himself from claims that close allies—including Secretary to the State Government Baba Malam Wali—are connected to Damuli Investment. Observers warn that concentrating key contracts in one firm risks undermining Buni’s legacy and fueling speculation of using public funds for political ambitions ahead of the 2027 elections.
Analysts argue that only an independent, transparent investigation can restore public trust, deliver justice for Gujba residents, and protect the integrity of Yobe’s governance. Without decisive action, the controversy could damage both the Assembly’s credibility and the governor’s reputation.
