Court Orders Remand Of Kano Former Commissioner, Over Alleged N1 Billion Fraud

Kano Chief Magistrate Court in Kano State, has ordered the remand of the immediate former work commissioner, Idris Saleh, in the custody of the state public complaints and corruption commission over an alleged N1 billion fraud.

Assistant director in the commission, Salisu Tahir,  had told the court that the accused who served under the Ganduje administration paid N1 billion to Arafat construction and multi resources.

According to the director, the former commissioner paid the money for the reconstruction of 30 roads in Kano metropolis, which were never executed.

Chief Magistrate Tijanni Sule-minjibir ordered the remand of the former commissioner in the custody of the commission for twelve days, pending the determination of his application for a bail.

Chief Magistrate Minjibir however adjourned the matter till 14th July, 2023 for ruling on the bail application.

Earlier at a briefing, the Chairman of PCACC, Muhyi Rimingado said five other persons including, a Permanent Secretary and Directors were also arrested by PCACC as part of the investigations into the alleged fraud.

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According to him, “We are here in relation to an outright theft of N1 billion belonging to Kano state government through bogus companies. I can’t tell you the names of the companies off head right now and for investigation sake.

The money was removed a month before handing over and it was removed under the pretext that it would be used for construction or rehabilitation of about thirty roads across Kano state.

That is why we made some arrests including the commissioner of works who doubles as the Managing Director Kano Road Maintenance Agency, KARMA. I want you to take note of this.

When we invited some of the Directors, because we have the Bank details that indicated fraudulent activities, this ignited the Commission to look into it.

We invited the Director Personnel, Planning and Statistics as well as the Director of Finance. They confessed to the Commission that they were only under instructions to remove the money.

There was no work done, nothing was done. So that prompted us to arrest the person that directed them. He is now with us and we are taking him to court.”

He added that investigation was on to get to the root of the matter and recover the allegedly stolen amount.