Kano state Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has launched an investigation against the former governor of Kano state Abdullahi Ganduje as his immunity as Governor has expired. Chairman of the commission, Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado stated this yesterday during a press conference, while confirming that the state government has already arrested a state commissioner, Engr. Idriss Wada who facilitated the alleged bribery of N1billion fraud. Recall that in 2018, a video of the former Governor stuffing bills of Dollars in his Agbada went viral.
The Kano anti-graft boss while appearing on trust TV in Kano has made his position clear of his willingness to re-open the file against the former governor’s travail in the alleged bribery scandal, where the former Governor was seen stuffing some US Dollars in his agbada alleged to be kickbacks from contractors, the allegation he consistently denied.
Rimingado disclosed that his office will leave no stone unturned to ensure investigation is followed to a logical conclusion through the use of forensic expert.
In his statement, “We have formally reopened the investigation and we have made several inroads. There is no extant court order barring us from the steps we are taking, which is investigation contrary to what some people want the public to believe”.
The anti-graft boss further revealed that his office had earlier wrote to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC seeking partnership in the investigation and a subsequent prosecution of similar offenses though his office is yet to receive a feedback from the EFCC.
Meanwhile, concerning the arrest of the former commissioner, the kano state PCACC have commence a preliminary investigation into his activities while serving as a commissioner in the state that lead into disappearance of some billions of naira under the guise of road maintenance.
While serving as the commissioner, he was also the Managing Director of Kano Road Maintenance Agency (KARMA) and has already being arrested alongside the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mustapha Madaki Huguma as well as the director of finance, director of research and planning of the Bureau late Monday.
The trio while serving under the administration of the former governor, they systematically withdrew the said money in three trenches, paid it into account of three companies on April 25th, and this was obtained through a civil servant who made a voluntary confession on how they were pressured by the said commissioner to perpetuate the crime.
Rimingado further revealed that “The Due Process office said the certificate of no objection was issued because Kano Road Maintenance Agency said the rehabilitation of the roads would be carried out through direct labour but the papers submitted read otherwise”.
Meanwhile, a Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Kano has since ordered that the former commissioner be remanded in custody of the anti-graft Commission for 12 days pending the conclusion of investigation.
He was paraded before the court yesterday on a two-count charge bordering on falsification of information and cheating.
Informing the trial judge when he applied for the remand of the accused person for 14 days, Salisu Tahir, an Assistant Director at PCACC, said sometimes in 2023 the defendant released the sum of N1 billion to Arafat Construction Company, No Stone Construction Company and Multi Resources to rehabilitate 30 roads in the metropolis that were not carried out.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Meanwhile, the defence counsel, Mustapha Idris, urged the court to grant his client bail sighting section 35(6) and 36(5) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended
However, the presiding Judge, Tijjani Sale-Minjibir, ordered the remand of the defendant in PCACC custody for 12 days pending hearing on the application.
The hearing has been adjoined until July 14 for the rule on bail application.