Boni Haruna
{{Short description|Nigerian politician (born 1957)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Boni Haruna
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| office1 = Minister of Youth Development
| term_start1 = 5 March 2014
| term_end1 = 12 November 2015
| president1 = Goodluck Jonathan
| predecessor1 = Inuwa Abdulkadir
| successor1 = Solomon Dalung
| office2 = Governor of Adamawa State
| term_start2 = 29 May 1999
| term_end2 = 29 May 2007
| deputy2 = Bello Tukur
| predecessor2 = Ahmadu Hussaini
| successor2 = Murtala Nyako
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1957|6|12}}
| birth_place = Kubi, Michika, British Cameroon (now in Adamawa State, Nigeria)
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Nigerian
| party = Peoples Democratic Party
| otherparty =
| spouse =
| children =
| education =
| occupation = Politician
| alma_mater =
| website =
}}
Boni Haruna (born 12 June 1957) is a Nigerian politician who served as Minister for Youth Development of Nigeria from 2014 to 2015. He previously served as governor of Adamawa State from 1999 to 2007. He was a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.
Background
Boni Haruna was born on 12 June 1957. He studied Political Science at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.{{cite web
|url=http://www.gleanernewsonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=99:boni-harunas-tears-of-joy&catid=62:scorpon-flakes&Itemid=121
|publisher=The Gleaner
|title=BONI HARUNA'S TEARS OF JOY
|author=Tony Iyare
|date=7 August 2009 |accessdate=5 December 2009}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}
Governor of Adamawa State
Boni Haruna was elected Adamawa state governor 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.{{cite web
|url=http://www.ceddert.com/publications/ceddert010.pdf
|title=The Distortion and Suppression of Evidence by the Court of Appeal on Adamawa State Governorship Case
|author=Alkasum Abba
|date=October 2004
|publisher=Centre for Democratic Development, Research and Training
|accessdate=5 December 2009
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100319192428/http://www.ceddert.com/publications/ceddert010.pdf
|archivedate=19 March 2010
}}
However, an appeal court upturned the judgement of the Tribunal and reinstated Haruna.{{cite web
|url=http://www.thisdayonline.com/archive/2004/08/11/20040811com02.html
|title=A Peep into Boni Haruna's Regime
|author=Bashir Abubakar
|date=11 August 2004
|publisher=ThisDay
|accessdate=5 December 2009
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050128162914/http://www.thisdayonline.com/archive/2004/08/11/20040811com02.html
|archivedate=28 January 2005
}}
In March 2006, Boni Haruna, alongside Bola Tinubu (AD), Orji Kalu (PDP), Chris Ngige (PDP), Ahmed Sani Yerima (ANPP) and Ibrahim Shekarau (ANPP), spoke against a third term for president Olusegun Obasanjo, alleging that most of the pro-third term governors were supporting it because they had something to hide.{{cite web
|url=http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/opinion/2006/mar/25/opinion-25-03-2006-flipside.htm
|title=Gov. Boni's challenge
|author=Eric Osagie
|date=25 March 2006 |work=Daily Sun
|accessdate=5 December 2009
}}{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite web |title=No. 1438: Obasanjo and a third-term ambition, 4 |url=https://www.laits.utexas.edu/africa/ads/1438.html |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=www.laits.utexas.edu}}
He repeated his opposition during an April 2006 meeting of 20 state governors.{{cite web
|url=http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2006/apr/20/national-20-04-2006-001.htm
|title=Third term: Govs give Obasanjo conditions•Imo senators okay
|author=Jacob Edi and Val Okara
|date=20 April 2006 |work=Daily Sun
|accessdate=5 December 2009
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070101051414/http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2006/apr/20/national-20-04-2006-001.htm
|archivedate=1 January 2007
}}
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.{{cite web
|url=http://nigeria.usembassy.gov/prog_09222006.html
|title=US Embassy Abuja Begins Visa Services
|date=22 September 2006 |publisher=U.S. Department of State
|accessdate=5 December 2009
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527133800/http://nigeria.usembassy.gov/prog_09222006.html
|archivedate=27 May 2010
}}
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.{{cite web
|url=http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2006/sept/28/national-28-09-2006-01.htm
|title=EFCC to prosecute 15 governors soon – Ribadu
|date=28 September 2006 |work=Daily Sun
|accessdate=5 December 2009
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061118111446/http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2006/sept/28/national-28-09-2006-01.htm
|archivedate=18 November 2006
}}
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.{{cite web
|url=http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2007/feb/07/national-07-02-2007-02.htm
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20080229190434/http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2007/feb/07/national-07-02-2007-02.htm
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=29 February 2008
|title=Lawmakers give Haruna impeachment notice
|author=STEVEN MUSA
|date=7 February 2007 |work=Daily Sun
|accessdate=5 December 2009
}}
Subsequent career
Shortly before the April 2007 national elections, Haruna switched allegiance to the newly formed Action Congress (AC) party.{{cite web
|url=http://www.triumphnewspapers.com/archive/DT09042007/boni94207.html
|title=Boni Haruna joins AC
|author=Rabi’u Auwal
|date=9 April 2007
|work=Daily Triumph
|accessdate=5 December 2009}}
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.{{cite web
|url=http://news.onlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=2202
|title=Boni Haruna dumps Atiku
|date=24 April 2009 |author=David Molomo
|publisher=OnlineNigeria
|accessdate=5 December 2009
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225040843/http://news.onlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=2202
|archivedate=25 February 2012
}}
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.{{cite web
|url = http://ndn.nigeriadailynews.com/templates/?a=15922
|title = Why Boni Haruna parted ways with Atiku
|date = 27 April 2009
|publisher = Nigeria Daily News
|accessdate = 5 December 2009
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110714183106/http://ndn.nigeriadailynews.com/templates/?a=15922
|archivedate = 14 July 2011
}}
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.{{cite web
|url=http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/newsonthehour/2008/aug/08/newsbreak-08-08-2008-001.htm
|title=Court sends Haruna back to EFCC custody •Rules on bail application today
|author=Godwim Tsa
|date=8 August 2008 |work=Daily Sun
|accessdate=5 December 2009
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120024244/http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/newsonthehour/2008/aug/08/newsbreak-08-08-2008-001.htm
|archivedate=20 November 2008
|url=http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/crimewatch/2008/sept/25/crimewatch-25-09-2008-001.htm
|title=SCORECARD – EFCC boss humbles critics . Records 25 convictions in 3 months . Recovers N3 billion … Set for anti-corruption revolution
|author=Chris Anucha
|date=25 September 2008 |work=Daily Sun
|accessdate=5 December 2009
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603004104/http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/crimewatch/2008/sept/25/crimewatch-25-09-2008-001.htm
|archivedate=3 June 2009
}}
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.{{cite web
|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200812010769.html
|title=Boni Haruna Granted Leave to Travel Abroad
|author=Funso Muraina and Lanre Ogunyemi
|date=29 November 2008
|publisher=This Day
|accessdate=5 December 2009}}
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.{{cite web
|url=http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=144655
|title=Money Laundering: Boni Haruna Re-arraigned
|author=Funso Muraina
|date=29 May 2009
|publisher=ThisDay
|accessdate=5 December 2009
}}{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
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.{{cite web
|url=http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200911194153260
|title=Court adjourns ruling on Boni Haruna's application
|date=19 November 2009 |publisher=The Punch
|accessdate=5 December 2009
}}{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
In October 2009, the EFCC filed 28 amended charges against Boni Haruna and three others.{{cite web|url=http://www.nigeriannewsservice.com/index.php/EFCC-Watch/N161m-fraud-EFCC-files-fresh-charges-against-Boni-Haruna-3-others.html |title=N161m fraud: EFCC files fresh charges against Boni Haruna, 3 others |date=6 October 2009 |publisher=Nigerian News Service |accessdate=5 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714182138/http://www.nigeriannewsservice.com/index.php/EFCC-Watch/N161m-fraud-EFCC-files-fresh-charges-against-Boni-Haruna-3-others.html |archivedate=14 July 2011 }}
In November 2009, the EFCC opposed an application by Haruna to again obtain travel documents for medical treatment in the United States.{{cite web
|url=http://news.onlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=10634
|title=N161m fraud: EFCC opposes Haruna's request for travel documents
|date=18 November 2009 |publisher=OnlineNigeria
|accessdate=5 December 2009
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225040850/http://news.onlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=10634
|archivedate=25 February 2012
}}
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.{{cite web
|url=http://news2.onlinenigeria.com/politics/89251-nass-poll-acn-presidential-candidate-ribadu-loses-in-adamawa.html
|title=NASS Poll: ACN Presidential Candidate Ribadu Loses In Adamawa
|work=Online Nigeria
|date=12 April 2011
|accessdate=23 April 2011
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728122559/http://news2.onlinenigeria.com/politics/89251-nass-poll-acn-presidential-candidate-ribadu-loses-in-adamawa.html
|archivedate=28 July 2011
}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{AdamawaStateGovernors}}
{{Nigerian state governors 1999-2003 term}}
{{Nigerian state governors 2003-2007 term}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Haruna, Boni}}
Category:Governors of Adamawa State
Category:Peoples Democratic Party state governors of Nigeria
Category:Action Congress of Nigeria politicians