Ime Akpan
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi 11 may have escaped being dethroned by the government but the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission has vowed to continue with its investigation into his alleged misappropriation of N3.4 billion belonging to the Kano Emirate Council.
Speaking at a news conference in Kano, the Commission’s Chairman, Mr. Muhuyi Magaji, said the investigation into the emirate council’s fund was not at the instance of the state
“By virtue of Section 8 of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended), which provides that in `exercising its powers under this law, the commission shall not be subjected to the direction and control of any authority’.
“So the commission is not under the control or discretion of any authority or person.
“As far as the commission is concerned this investigation is ongoing and the commission will do everything legally possible to deliver its mandate with respect to the case,” he said.
He explained that the commission found it necessary to make the clarification that the investigation did not commence at the instance of the government of Kano state, but as a result of series of complaints by concerned citizens of the state.
“After the issuance of query to the Emir of Kano by the government based on the report of the commission, many things have happened which necessitated the commission as an independent entity to state its position,” he added.
It would be recalled that the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission had, in its interim report of investigation, indicted the emir for alleged N3.4 billion fraud and recommended his suspension from office.
Consequently, the state government issued a query to the emir on Thursday, June 6 and sought the emir’s response within 48 hours.
Replying to the query on June 7, the acting secretary of the emirate council, Mr. Abba Yusuf said the emir could not be held responsible for alleged fund misappropriation since he was neither the accounting officer nor the council’s secretary.
He also said that at the time Sanusi 11 was installed as emir in 2014, the Emirate Council had only N1, 893, 378, 927.38, an amount far lesser than the N3.4 billion the Kano State anti-graft Commission said was mismanaged between 2014 and 2017.
“I am directed to refer to your letter NO. SSG/OFF/03/V.I/ dated June 6th, 2019 to which was attached a copy of the report of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, containing some allegations of financial misappropriation of the sum of N3.4 Billion by the Kano Emirate Council.
“You may wish to note that at the time His Highness was appointed Sarkin Kano, the exact amount in the account of Kano Emirate Council was N1,893,378,927,38 (One billion eight hundred and ninety three million, three hundred and seventy eight thousand, nine hundred and twenty seven naira, thirty eight kobo only).
“It is also important to note that His Highness, Sarkin Kano is not the accounting officer of the Kano Emirate Council, but the secretary of the council. We thank you for giving us the opportunity to respond to the various allegations contained in the report and accordingly give our responses as per the attached,” said Yusuf.
