Tunji Wusu –
The former commissioner for works and infrastructure under former governor Abdullahi Ganduje, Alhaji Idris Wada Saleh, and three other people have been arrested and detained by the Public Complaints and Anti Corruption Commission (PCAC) of Kano State, according to the commission’s chairman, Barr Muhyi Magaji Rimin-Gado, who made the announcement on Tuesday.
Barrister Rimin-Gado revealed this on Tuesday during a news conference, saying the affected individuals were arrested in connection with the suspected N1 billion scam.
Barrister Rimin-Gado made a suggestion that the commissioner, who previously served as the managing director of the Kano Road Maintenance Agency, the permanent secretary of the public procurement bureau, Mustapha Madaki Huguma, the director of finance, and the director of research and planning, among others, had been detained on Monday night over allegations that they had withdrew more than N1 billion for the rehabilitation of 30 roads and drainage in the city but had not actually completed the work.
However, he revealed that even though those three individuals, who were state government employees, had admitted to the anti-graft organization, they had been ordered to withdraw the money and had thus done so to avoid being subjected to witch hunts or dismissal in the event that they had refused to follow the instructions.
The money, which was withdrawn in three batches, was deposited into the accounts of three firms around April 25, 2023, a month after the incumbent governor Ganduje had lost the election, according to Barrister Rimin-Gado.
According to him, individuals detained have admitted to paying for work that has not been completed, and “the firms they paid the money ti are phony having almost the same letterhead without tentative office,” he said.
He claimed that, “surprise, the Public Procurement Bureau even issued a certificate of no objection for the contract after the payment had been paid ten days earlier, which is against the Kano State Procurement Act 2021.
According to him, “The Due Process office said the certificate of no objection was provided because Kano Road Maintenance Agency said the rehabilitation of the roads will be carried out by direct labor yet the papers supplied read otherwise.
The former governor Umar Ganduje was involved in a Dollar Video Clip, according to the Kano Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, which claimed to have made a desperate effort to solve the matter.
He claims that the commission has subsequently invited a few forensic specialists who would thoroughly review the Video Clip to comprehend its content.
According to Muhyi, the controversy surrounding Ganduje and the purported video continues to be of great interest to the Kano people, and as such, the Commission is sworn to uncover the truth.
The Chairman, however, reiterated that the Commission has the necessary legal authority to investigate the issues surrounding the Ganduje Dollar Video Clip and dismissed reports that there is a pending legal dispute as having no bearing on their inquiry.
The Kano general people, who want to know the truth about what transpired, directed the Commission, which was not in any way attempting to extort anyone.
