Kano State Assembly suspends head of State Anti-Graft Agency

The Kano State House of Assembly has suspended the Chairman, Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado.

Magaji was reportedly suspended because he rejected an accountant sent to the commission by the state’s Accountant General.

The Speaker, Hamisu Chidari announced the suspension at the Assembly’s plenary session on Monday.

The suspension followed a letter of complaint against Rimingado sent to the house by office of the Accountant-General of Kano state.

The letter also revealed that the chairman appointed a grade level 4 as an accountant of the commission which is contrary to the state act.

The house however suspended the anti-corruption chairman for one month and directed the house Committee on Anti-corruption to investigate the matter and submit its report in the next two weeks.

Recall that unconfirmed reports making rounds in the state few days ago have it that there are plots to remove the chairman, antigraft agency, Rimingado for allegedly stepping on toes of powers that be in the state.

Despite initially receving commendation from the state governor, Abdulahi Ganduje for curtailing corruption in Kano, the relationship between Magaji and Ganduje have recently suffered a hit.

NewsWireNGR gathered that the friction in their relationship has allegedly led to Ganduje mounting pressure on the Kano Assembly to remove the anti-graft boss.

Trouble allegedly started when Magaji beamed his searchlight into government contracts that were allgedly awarded to family members and croonies of Ganduje.

According to a report by Daily Nigerian, Magaji in a letter with reference number PCACC/CM/OFF/VOL.1/071 dated June 10, 2021, requested the commissioner of the Ministry of Works to provide information relating to construction of Cancer Center and the supply of diesel by the state government.

This contract was believed to be spearheaded by the first family of the Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.

In Ganduje’s defence, the state government accused Magaji of alleged financial misconduct and operating a lifestyle above his earnings.

The posting of the Chief Accountant to the agency has also been regarded as a plan by the state government to reduce the powers of Magaji in the commission.

But the anti-graft boss had tackled the posting of the Chief Accountant citing that the government does not have the power to decided for the agency.

Gado argued his stance in a memo with reference number PCAC/GEN/1/VOL.1/XX addressed to the state’s Accountant General on Tuesday, June 29 evening.

The memo read, “The Commission is govern (sic) by the provision of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Law 2008 (as amended), “ adding that “appointment into any office of the Commission other than its membership is within the exclusive competence of the Commission.”