The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, PCACC, has arrested the Permanent Secretary of Kano State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ibrahim Muhammad Kabara, alongside the State’s Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Chairman, Abdullahi Ibrahim and four others in connection with an allegation of corruption relating to the procurement of drugs and medical equipment for the 44 local governments in the state.
It was reliably gathered that the Commission has also extended an invitation to Musa Garba, the Managing Director of Novomed Pharmaceuticals and a nephew of former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, for questioning.
The arrested officials, who have been at the commission since 11 a.m. on Tuesday, were detained in custody and grilled by the operatives of the anti-graft agency.
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A source close to the Commission revealed that the ALGON Chairman confessed to having illegally directed the payment of Four Hundred and Two Million Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N402,600,000) for the procurement of drugs and medical equipment, out of which Three Hundred and Forty-Seven Million Seven Hundred Thousand (N347,700,000) was paid by 38 local governments of the state before the commencement of the investigation.
The commission is accusing them of violating the PCACC Law, the Public Procurement Law, and the Financial Management Law over their actions in awarding the contract for the supply of drugs and medical equipment to the 44 LGs of Kano State in contravention of relevant provisions of the laws and extant regulations and without obtaining prior consent and approval from the Governor of Kano State, Engr. Abba Yusuf.
Recall that the governor, who denied knowledge of the contract, directed the chairman of the Kano State PCACC, Bar. Muhuyi Rimingado, to launch investigation into the allegation and report the outcomes for further necessary actions.
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