Kano Anti-Graft Commission Arrests Ganduje’s Commissioner Engr Idris Wada Saleh, who held the position of Commissioner for Works and Infrast...
Kano Anti-Graft Commission Arrests Ganduje’s Commissioner
Engr Idris Wada Saleh, who held the position of Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure under the... Kano State Public Complaints and Anti Corruption Commission, has been detained.
Engr Idris Wada Saleh was detained by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti Corruption Commission. He was the former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure under the government of former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
He and five other people were detained on suspicion of a N1 billion fraud.
The commissioner was reportedly also the managing director of the Kano Road Maintenance Agency (KARMA), the permanent secretary of the public procurement bureau, Mustapha Madaki Huguma, the director of finance, and the director of research and planning, among others. They were all reportedly detained on Monday night on suspicion of withdrawing over N1 billion for the rehabilitation of 30 roads and drainage in the city, which was never done.
Those detained were being questioned and would be arraigned in court as soon as the inquiry was over, a source in the commission who asked not to be named told our correspondent.
According to a source, the money in question was allegedly withdrawn in three batches and deposited into the accounts of three different businesses around April 25, 2023, while those who were arrested allegedly confessed to receiving payment for services that were never rendered.
The Kano Road Maintenance Agency claimed that the rehabilitation of the roads would be carried out by direct labour, however the papers supplied stated differently, according to the Due Process office, which stated that this is why the certificate of no objection was issued.
The organisations include 1st Step Construction Ltd., Arfat Multiresources Ltd., and North Stone Construction Company Nig. Ltd.
The anti-graft commission's reinstated chairman, Barrister Muhuyi Magajin Rimin-Gado, promised to reopen the inquiry into Ganduje about some contentious recordings when he appeared on a Trust TV broadcast last week.
An internet publication called Daily Nigerian had made some footage showing Ganduje reportedly receiving payments from contractors.
However, Rimin-Gado, who was reinstated by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf after being fired by Ganduje following an incident, said that the investigation was required.
Rimin-Gado responded, "I mean every word I said when I was in office. I was reminded of what I stated on the dollar videos in a prior interview. He was the incumbent governor at the time we launched the investigation, so there were certain restrictions.
"Immunity is granted to every president, vice president, and governor in office. That cap has since been removed. The commission will take the required action.