N3.4bn Fraud: Nobody's Influencing Sanusi's Probe, Says Kano Anti-graft Agency

…We’ll resist attempt to cancel four new emirates, group insists

Following a preliminary report submitted to the Kano State Government by the state Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission, the anti-graft body has declared that it is not under anybody's influence to investigate Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi ll.

This is coming as the Committee for the Restoration of Gaya, Karaye, and Rano Emirates on Monday declared that they were ready to resist any attempt to reverse the newly created emirates councils in the state.

The Executive Chairman of the commission, Mr. Muhyi Magaji Rimingado, told journalists in Kano yesterday that the body had been empowered by the law to independently probe the emir.

According to him, "The public may recall that the commission is in receipt of a complaint filed by concerned friends of Kano Emirate on March 28, 2017, over alleged financial misappropriation by Kano Emirate Council under Emir Sanusi.

“The petitioners raised some allegations bothering on spending funds belonging to the emirate council without appropriation and regards to due process."

He explained that the law establishing the commission has made it independent under section 8, 9 and 15 of the Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission law 2008 as amended.

The state anti-graft chairman added that the commission is only acting on petition bothering on allegations raised by some concerned friends of the Kano emirate on financial misappropriation of the emirate's funds under the leadership of Emir Sanusi.

He therefore stated that the commission, despite the preliminary report, is still continuing with its investigation while waiting on the state government to act on the report.

However, he added that the query letter issued to the Emir of Kano by the state government based on the report of the commission has raised issues that regard clarifications to prove the independence of the commission.

"This investigation was not commenced at the instance of the state government but as a result of series of complaints by citizens of the state.

"That by virtue of Section 8 of the Kano State Public Complaint 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, the commission is not under the control or discretion of any authority or person.

"That our preliminary report is only for the government to act administratively so that the commission can continue to exercise its responsibilities without any interference, and nothing more.

"That 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," Rimingado declared.

It was reported that the commission last week submitted the preliminary report to the state government seeking the suspension of the emir for scuttling investigation over allegations of misappropriation of the emirate funds amounting to N3.4 billion.