Kano agency arrests Kwankwaso’s nephew, others over alleged contract scam

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested five persons, including Garba Kwankwaso, a nephew of ex-governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, over an alleged multi-billion naira drugs supply scam.

The development was disclosed to newsmen in Kano on Wednesday by the Public Relations Officer of the anti-graft commission, Kabiru Kabiru.

According to Kabiru, the others arrested included the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Kabara; and the Chairman of the Tauroni Local Government Area, Alhaji Abdullahi Bashir.

The anti-graft agency alleged that Kwankwaso’s nephew, who is  Managing Director of Novomed Pharmaceuticals, and the others connived to award a contract to Novomed for the supply of drugs to 38 LGAs in the state in violation of the public procurement laws.

The agency said its preliminary investigations revealed that each of the 38 LGAs paid N9.1m to Novomed for the procurement of drugs but the drugs were not supplied.

“We have 44 LGAs in the state and they succeeded in collecting N9.150m from 38 councils for supply of the drugs that were not supplied.

“The findings also revealed that all the suspects are cooperating with the commission’s investigation team.”

The spokesman said the commission was working to unravel the full extent of the alleged scam and bring those responsible to justice.

He also confirmed that the suspects were in the commission’s custody while investigation was still ongoing.

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