The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) on Thursday interrogated the Garko local government interim chairman Gambo isa and two others regarding an alleged Multi-billion-naira contract scam.
Additionally, Musa Garba, the owner of Novomed Pharmaceutical and nephew of the Kwankwasiyya movement leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who had been in the commission’s custody for over ten hours, was released on bail around 9:30 PM.
He has been asked to return to the anti-graft agency on Monday.
READ ALSO: Kano Anty-graft Agency Arrested Kwankwaso’s Nephew For Alleged Multi-Million Naira Drugs Scam
It is recalled that ₦660 million is part of the ₦1.1 billion approved by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for the 44 local governments to address issues related to water and medical supplies.
The approval covered projects scheduled for August, September, and October 2024, with ₦1.1 billion allocated each month, granting ₦25 million to each local government.
However, out of the ₦25 million approved and released to each local government in August, it was discovered that the caretaker chairmen were directed to remit ₦10 million each to the account of Novomed Pharmaceuticals, a company reportedly owned by Musa Garba, a nephew of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the national leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
Sources at the commission told SolaceBase that the three interim Local Government Chairmen under investigation have confessed to their involvement in the misappropriation of funds.
The chairmen under probe include Abdulaziz Sulaiman of Kiru Local Government, Gambo Isa of Garko Local Government, and Basiru Abubakar of Bebeji Local Government.
Furthermore, 19 individuals are currently in custody and undergoing interrogation. These include treasurers, Heads of Department (HODs) for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), and other senior officials from different Local Government Areas.
Among them are Nura Uba Sani, Muhammad Sani Usman, Ibrahim Sani, Usman Yusha’u, Muhammad A. Shehu, Ismail Yusuf, Muhammad Jamilu Sani, Kabiru Akilu Kawo, Nasir Adamu, Basiru Abubakar, Danlami Mu’azu Sa’idu, Abdullahi Muhammad Yako, Abubakar Muhammad, Abba Abdullahi, Gali Abdulkadir Jauro, Bashir Ibrahim Fanda, Garzali Abdu Sulaiman, and Ibrahim Danguda.
These individuals are alleged to have been involved in transferring money to personal accounts and, in some cases, withdrawing cash, actions contrary to due process and procurement laws.
A credible source at the commission also told SolaceBase that some of the funds have been traced to the accounts of some Local Government Chairmen.
“We have started recovering the funds as they are willingly returning them during the course of interrogation and investigation,” the source said.
However, the three chairmen have also been granted administrative bail and directed to return to the commission on Friday.