Ganduje’s Commissioner, 5 Others Arrested Over N1bn Fraud

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested one of the  former commissioners that served under Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and four others over allegations of one billion naira fraud.

The reinstated anti-graft boss in the State, Barr Muhyi Magaji Rimin Gado, had promised that everyone accused of bribery and corruption in the past would be made to face the law.

His statement culminated in the arrest and detention of the former commissioner for works and infrastructure, Engr Idris Wada Saleh and five others over allegations of one billion naira fraud.

Mustapha Madaki Huguma who served as the director of finance; the director of research and planning; managing director, Kano Road Maintenance Agency; permanent secretary, Public Procurement Bureau, among others, were arrested on Monday evening over allegations of withdrawing over N1 billion for the rehabilitation of 30 roads and drainage in the metropolis but failed to carry out the projects.

One of the sources at the anti-graft commission said that the money, which was withdrawn in three tranches, was paid into the account of three companies in April 2023.

“Surprisingly the Public Procurement Bureau even issued a certificate of no objection for the contract after the payment was made ten days earlier, which is against the Procurement Act 2021.

‘’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,’’ the source said.

Spokesman of the commission, Abba Kabir, confirmed that those arrested are undergoing interrogation and would be arraigned before the court immediately investigation is completed.