The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has secured a post-no-debit order on an account linked to an alleged local government contract scam, freezing N160 million while working to recover an additional N440 million. The investigation is ongoing, with key figures expected to be questioned......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
Among those to be questioned is Musa Garba Kwankwaso, nephew of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement. He is scheduled to appear before investigators on Thursday to answer questions about his company, Novomed Pharmaceuticals, which is implicated in the alleged scam.
The contract in question, reportedly awarded without following due process, involved each local government paying about N9 million monthly, totaling N396 million every month. The scandal came to light when Nigerian filmmaker Bello Galadanchi alleged that the state government directed 44 local councils to pay around N10 million each for drug supplies, with the contract exclusively awarded to Novomed Pharmaceuticals.
According to Galadanchi, 25 local governments, including Tofa, Bebeji, Dambatta, Dawakin Tofa, and others, have already made payments for August to Novomed’s account.
Critics have raised concerns about the transparency of the local governments’ interim management committees, which were appointed by Governor Yusuf in March after the elected council chairmen’s terms expired.
Governor Yusuf has since distanced himself from the contract, denying prior knowledge of the deal and ordering an immediate investigation into the matter.
In an interview, PCACC Chairman Muhuyi Magaji revealed that invitations have been issued to several individuals, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Local Governments, the Director of Planning, and the Director of Local Government Inspection. The commission has also summoned the chairman and secretary of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Kano State, as well as the chairman and public relations officer of the Local Governments Directors of Personnel Management Forum.