Connect with us

Government

Alleged N3.4bn Fraud: Kano Anti-graft Agency Recommends Sanusi’s Suspension

Published

on

  • Alleged N3.4bn Fraud: Kano Anti-graft Agency Recommends Sanusi’s Suspension

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has recommended the suspension of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi, over alleged misappropriation of N3.4bn by the Kano Emirate Council.

The commission, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, said during its investigation, it discovered that N3.4bn was allegedly misappropriated by the Kano Emirate Council between 2014 and 2017.

The preliminary report of investigation conducted by the commission was signed by its Chairman, Muhuyi Magaji.

According to NAN, the investigation followed a petition against the council.

The commission alleged that the council spent over N1.4bn on items believed to be fraudulent and “unappropriated”.

The report also alleged that the council spent over N1.9bn unappropriated on seemingly personal things.

It said the expenditure contravened the provisions of Section 120 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 8 of the Kano State Emirate Council Special Fund Law 2004.

It added that the expenditure had also violated Section 314 of Penal Code as well as provisions of Section 26 of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended).

The commission recommended that the “principal suspect in the person of Muhammad Sanusi II and all other suspects connected with the case be suspended, pending the final outcome of the investigations”.

It added, “This is a necessary administrative disciplinary action aimed at preventing the suspects from further interfering with the commission’s investigations.

“The commission further recommends that the contract awarded to Tri-C Nigeria Limited for renovation of Babban Daki, Kofar Kudu and Gidan Sarki Dorayi should be revoked.”

The commission added, “During the course of the commission’s investigations, expenditure that was incurred without following due process or appears to be suspicious was uncovered. Huge sums of money were transferred to some banks accounts which were claimed to be companies’ accounts.

“However, the companies appear to be either unregistered with the Corporate Affairs Commission or dormant that cannot appear in the public search of the companies register. Investigations also shows that those unregistered companies are linked to some of the identified suspects in the emirate council. Investigation will later reveal the beneficial owners of those entities.”

It also recommended that further legal action should be taken against all the suspects as soon as the final outcome of the investigations were concluded and legal advice issued.

As of the time of filing this report, the council had yet to react to the allegations of misappropriation of funds levelled against it by the commission.

But a Kano lawyer and activist, Abdulsalam Yusuf, said, “What happened was that some interested people petitioned the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, alleging misappropriation of funds to the tune of N2.4bn at the Kano Emirate Council.’’

According to him, the agency feels duty-bound to “investigate the emir, who is the custodian of the emirate’s funds”.

However, a Kano civil rights activist, Mr Ibrahim Maryam, contended that the said money was the actual money inherited by Sanusi.

Maryam said the commission should first investigate how much the late Emir Ado Bayero left behind and how much was paid as his royalties, including additional salary increment for emirate staff.

The activist called for an independent body to investigate the allegations rather than the state-owned anti-corruption agency.

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

Continue Reading
Comments

Government

Senate Suspends Senator Abdul Ningi for 3 Months Over Budget Padding Allegations

Published

on

Abdul-Ahmed-Ningi

The Senate has announced the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi for three months following his allegations of budget padding to the tune of N3.7 trillion in the 2024 budget.

Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central and chairs the Senate Committee on Population, had made the claims in a recent interview with the Hausa service of the BBC.

During a plenary session, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, raised a motion to address Ningi’s allegations, citing the urgent need to address what he termed as “false allegations.”

The transcript of Ningi’s interview was read on the Senate floor, prompting deliberation on the appropriate action to take.

Initially, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim proposed a 12-month suspension for Ningi, but Senator Chris Ekpeyong moved to reduce it to six months.

Eventually, Senator Garba Maidoki amended the motion further, suggesting a three-month suspension.

The amended motion was put to a voice vote, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the decision to suspend Ningi for three months.

Following the ruling, Ningi was escorted out of the Senate chamber by the Sergeants-at-arms.

The suspension comes amidst division within the Senate over Ningi’s claims, with some senators disowning his allegations and calling for a thorough investigation.

Continue Reading

Government

Ekiti Governor Unveils Multi-Billion Naira Relief Programmes Amid Economic Crisis

Published

on

Biodun Oyebanji

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, has announced a comprehensive relief package aimed at alleviating the hardship faced by the people of the state.

The relief programs encompass various sectors to cushion the impact of the economic downturn.

One of the key initiatives entails clearing salary arrears amounting to over N2.7 billion owed to both State and Local Government workers.

This move signifies the government’s commitment to addressing the financial burdens faced by its workforce.

Furthermore, Governor Oyebanji has approved a substantial increase of N600 million per month in the subvention of autonomous institutions, including the Judiciary and tertiary institutions.

This augmentation is intended to enable these institutions to implement wage awards in alignment with State and Local Government workers’ salaries.

In addition to addressing salary arrears, the relief programs extend to pensioners, with the approval of payments totaling N1.5 billion for two months’ pension arrears.

Moreover, an increase in the monthly gratuity payment to state pensioners and local government pensioners will provide additional financial support, totaling N200 million monthly.

The relief initiatives also encompass agricultural and small-scale business sectors.

The allocation of funds for food production and livestock transformation projects underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing food security and economic sustainability at the grassroots level.

Governor Oyebanji emphasized that these relief programs are part of the state’s concerted efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of the economic downturn and foster shared prosperity.

The comprehensive nature of the initiatives reflects a proactive approach towards addressing the challenges faced by Ekiti State residents.

Continue Reading

Government

President Tinubu Orders Immediate Settlement of N342m Electricity Bill for Presidential Villa

Published

on

power project

President Bola Tinubu has directed the prompt settlement of a N342 million outstanding electricity bill owed by the Presidential Villa to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

This move comes in response to the reconciliation of accounts between the State House Management and the AEDC.

The AEDC had earlier threatened to disconnect electricity services to the Presidential Villa and 86 Federal Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) over a total outstanding debt of N47.20 billion as of December 2023.

Contrary to the initial claim by the AEDC that the State House owed N923 million in electricity bills, the Presidency clarified that the actual outstanding amount is N342.35 million.

This discrepancy underscores the importance of accurate accounting and reconciliation between entities.

In a statement signed by President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency affirmed the commitment to settle the debt promptly.

Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila assured that the debt would be paid to the AEDC before the end of the week.

The directive from the Presidency extends beyond the State House, as Gbajabiamila urged other MDAs to reconcile their accounts with the AEDC and settle their outstanding electricity bills.

The AEDC, on its part, issued a 10-day notice to the affected government agencies to settle their debts or face disconnection.

This development highlights the importance of financial accountability and responsible management of public utilities.

It also underscores the necessity for government entities to fulfill their financial obligations to service providers promptly, ensuring uninterrupted services and avoiding potential disruptions.

Continue Reading
Advertisement




Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending