Nigeria, May 17 -- The Northern Bridge Builders' Forum (NBBF) has strongly criticized demands for the suspension of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, over allegations of fraud linked to an individual wrongly assumed to be his aide.

In a statement released Saturday in Abuja, the forum condemned what it described as politically-motivated efforts by certain interest groups to tarnish Akume's image, insisting that the accusations lacked merit and substance.

The communique, jointly signed by Senator Joel Ikenya and Gowon Emmanuel, the Convener and Secretary of the forum respectively, pointed out that the alleged fraudulent act did not occur within the SGF's office and had no connection to the SGF or a...