The chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), Muhuyi Rimingado, has been invited for questioning by both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) regarding the commission’s finances.
Mr. Rimingado recently conducted a forensic analysis on videos that allegedly showed the immediate-past governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, accepting a bribe in the form of a wad of dollars.
Ganduje had obtained an interim order preventing the anti-corruption agency from investigating him, his family, and any of his political appointees.
However, in what appears to be a counter-attack by Ganduje, the EFCC and CCB have launched simultaneous investigations into Mr. Rimingado’s activities at the commission.
The EFCC letter, dated August 8, 2023, stated: “The Commission is investigating a case in which the need to obtain certain clarification from your office is imperative.
“2. In view of the above, you are requested to kindly release the Director of Finance and Accounts to report for an interview with the undersigned through the Team Leader AFF/TC at Plot 301/302 Institution and Research District Jabi, along Airport Road, Abuja on Monday, 29th August, 2023 by 1000hours. He should come along with the following information:
“I. Details of total funds released to your office by the Office of the Accountant General of Kano state from 2019 to 2021 fiscal year.
“II. Details of total funds released to your office by the Kano state Ministry of Local Government from 2019 to 2021 including contracts executed and details of beneficiary accounts.”
On the other hand, the CCB letter, dated August 16, 2023, is requesting Mr. Rimingado to provide the bureau with records of recoveries, forfeitures, and management of the commission’s finances from 2016 to present.
“Pursuant to the mandate and powers of the Bureau as enshrined in the 3rd Schedule, Part 1, paragraph 3(e) to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, The Code of Conduct Bureau is investigating a case of alleged violation of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers against some staff of your organization.
“2. Consequently, you are kindly requested to furnish the Bureau with certified True Copies (CTC) of detailed information on the following: i. All contractual undertakings by the Commission from 2016 to present; All records of recoveries, forfeitures, and management of the same from 2016 to present; ii. Records of all financial allocations to the Commission including donor agency funds from 2016 to present; iv. Status of all the Commission’s buildings across the local government of the state.”
The Kano anti-graft commission has recently launched several investigations into Mr. Ganduje’s administration. These include alleged diversion of N4 billion from KASCO and the recovery of heavy-duty vehicles and other equipment belonging to the state government.
The state anti-graft agency also uncovered 543 plots of land at Kano Dry Port, Zawachiki, estimated to be worth about N5 billion, which were allegedly misappropriated by the former governor through Lamash Properties Limited, a company linked to his family.
Lamash Properties Limited had acquired various Kano State Government properties, including Daula Hotel and Triumph Publishing Company, through questionable Public-Private Partnership deals that allegedly shortchanged the state.
An inside source familiar with the commission’s investigations said billions of naira were allegedly funneled through the bank accounts of some domestic staff of the former governor.
Furthermore, Mr. Rimingado is also investigating a N100 billion fraud, part of which Mr. Ganduje allegedly used to purchase the state-owned Kano Cotton Ginnery through his family’s company, Lasage General Enterprise LTD.
Sources claim that the state-owned cotton ginning company located in Chalawa was valued at about N2 billion but was sold to the private company for N320 million in cash.
