Ibrahim Shehu Shema

Lawyer-politician and second civilian Governor of Katsina State (PDP, 2007–2015), succeeding Umaru Musa Yar'Adua after Yar'Adua's election to the presidency. Earlier served as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Katsina State under Yar'Adua (1999–2003); married into the Yar'Adua family in 2013 (second wife Hajiya Maryam Yar'Adua, daughter of the late President). In September 2016, the EFCC declared him wanted over a N76bn allegation (criminal conspiracy, contract inflation, abuse of office, diversion to private accounts, N42bn debt overhang at handover); the allegations were articulated by successor Governor Aminu Bello Masari. In 2018, the EFCC and Katsina State Government filed a 26-count money-laundering charge involving N5.7bn of SURE-P federal funds at the Federal High Court Katsina; the court admitted 14 exhibits against him and granted bail. The case has been subject to repeated adjournments and re-arraignments without verdict. A separate Katsina State Government N11bn ALGON misappropriation suit was withdrawn by the Katsina State Government in February 2023. Defence counsel: Wole Olanipekun & Co. Shema denies all allegations and characterises them as politically motivated by his APC successor.