Kano Anti-graft Agency Uncovers ₦18 Billion Fund Looted By Public Officials

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has announced the discovery of a staggering ₦18 billion that politicians have misappropriated in collaboration with civil servants in the state.

The Chairman of the Kano anti-graft agency, Barr. Muhuyi Rimingado, disclosed this during a one-day capacity-building workshop organized by the Commission in partnership with the Kano State Head of Civil Service and the International Idea (ROLAC II Programme), aimed at educating Civil Service Directors in Kano State about anti-corruption measures.

Rimingado noted that civil servants have often found themselves entangled in corrupt activities across various investigations conducted by the commission.

This underscores the importance of the capacity-building workshop, which aims to raise awareness among civil servants about the risks of being exploited by politicians to engage in corrupt practices.

He noted that a significant 90 percent of corrupt activities are linked to procurement processes, facilitated by the collusion of politicians and civil servants.

Rimingado stated further that the commission will impose penalties on any civil servant involved in corruption within the state.

He said: “We intend to sensitize the Civil Servant against being used by politicians against the law. They are caught in the middle of corrupt practices. All the ground corrupt practices the agency is investigating in Kano, civil servants are the ingredients and tools in the hands of those elements who operate at a high level.

“Again, 90 per cent of corruption cases are perpetrated through procurement services. When politicians want to steal, they use procurement as cover-up.

“So we are here to sensitize them on Anti-Corruption law, public procurement and financial management laws. We are here to detail to them how to deal with the public finances of Kano state and Anti-Corruption laws and other relevant laws that will guide them on their mandates.

“We also have the local government staff here because we have a case where the politicians used local government cashiers’ accounts to siphon public funds. The cashiers volunteered to withdraw the monies, take them to bureau De Change and make returns.

“We want to warn them and caution them about the consequences of corrupt acts. Whoever is found in any case of corruption will be penalized. We are determined to impose the zero tolerance to corruption principle of state government.”

In his address, the Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, expressed his dismay regarding the previous administration’s extensive misappropriation of state funds, stating, “They spent all the eight years looting the state’s money.”

Governor Yusuf, represented by his Deputy, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, emphasized that the current government would not tolerate any form of corruption.

He urged the Directors within the state civil service to reject corrupt practices and to commit themselves to integrity, dedication, and selfless service for the advancement of the state.

Earlier, the Head of Civil Service, Abdullahi Musa, reminded the participants that as directors entrusted with the management of public resources, they have a responsibility to ensure their prudent and effective use for the benefit of all citizens.

He encouraged them to act as exemplary figures for their subordinates and to collaborate in eradicating the issue of corruption.