Sanusi: Why we suspend N6bn fraud probe, says agency

Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II

The Chairman , Kano State Public Complaints and Anti -Corruption Commission, Mr . Muhuyi Magaji , says the agency has achieved 80 per cent success into the investigation of alleged misapplication of N 6bn by the Kano Emirate Council .
Magaji told the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja that the commission had also recorded a “ water tight case against the emirate council ’’ over the allegations of financial misappropriation.
“ We have also identified our primary suspect in the course of the investigation, ’’ he said , but declined to name the suspect, ” he said .
However, he said that the commission suspended the probe to avoid a “ crisis of concurrent investigation with the state House of Assembly and possible litigation by interested parties . ”
The chairman explained that the state legislature had taken over the case by constituting an eight-man committee to conduct a similar probe when the commission was on top of the situation .
According to him , Section 16 of the law establishing the commission barred it from conducting further investigation into any matter pending before the state House of Assembly and the courts .
Magaji cited the case of Rabiu Salisu and others before the Federal Court of Appeal in suit No : K /37/2016, and suit No : K /M /728/2015, involving Rabiu Ibrahim & Co financial institutions Vs the anti - graft agency to buttress the need for the suspension.
He added that the commission had found out that “ all the monies allegedly spent were not appropriated for contrary to the Kano State Emirate Council Law 2004. ”
The law required the council to prepare annual budgets and submit same for appropriation by the legislature .
“ But our findings from the Ministry of Budget and Planning confirmed that the emirate council has an annual overheads of N 15m and no capital allocation even under Emir Sanusi , ’’ said the chairman .
Meanwhile, he said that the commission had written the House of Assembly on the matter and would stay further action pending the response of the legislature.
He , therefore , urged the public to appreciate the legal and extraneous constraints of the commission in suspending investigation into the alleged financial irregularities committed by the emirate council .