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A Kano Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday remanded Idris Wada, the state’s former Commissioner of Works and Infrastructure, in the custody of the Kano State Public Complaint and Anticorruption Commission, PCACC, for 12 days over an alleged N1 billion fraud.
Wada served under former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Following his arrest and arraignment by the commission, the court presided over by Chief Magistrate Tijjani Saleh Minjibir ordered the remand of Engr. Saleh, who also serves as Managing Director of Kano Road and Maintenance Agency, KARMA.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel and Secretary, Legal Adviser of the commission, Salisu Tahir had told the court that he had filed an exparte application praying the court to remand the defendant in its custody for 14 days to enable it to carry out further investigation and file a formal charge claiming that the defendant has a case to answer regarding the N1 billion road project and belonging to the state government.
Tahir said attached to the application were six exhibits which include payment vouchers of the three companies and also a final address dated 4th July 2023 while urging the court to consider and grant its request.
In response, the Counsel to the Defendant, Mustapha Idris told the court that although the application by the prosecution was exparte, it also has a bail application that which the prosecution counsel objected.
Delivering his ruling, the presiding judge granted a remand of 12 days instead of the 14 days requested by the commission and directed that the defendant be put under good condition in the commission’s custody.
Chief Magistrate Minjibir however adjourned the matter till 14th July 2023 for a ruling on the bail application.
Earlier at a briefing, the Chairman of PCACC, Muhyi Rimingado said five other persons including, a Permanent Secretary and Directors were also arrested by PCACC as part of the investigations into the alleged fraud.
According to him, “We are here in relation to an outright theft of N1 billion belonging to Kano state government through bogus companies. I can’t tell you the names of the companies off-head right now and for investigation’s sake.
“The money was removed a month before handing over and it was removed under the pretext that it would be used for construction or rehabilitation of about thirty roads across Kano state.
“That is why we made some arrests including the commissioner of works who doubles as the Managing Director of Kano Road Maintenance Agency, KARMA. I want you to take note of this.
“When we invited some of the Directors because we have the Bank details that indicated fraudulent activities, this ignited the Commission to look into it.
“We invited the Director of Personnel, Planning, and Statistics as well as the Director of Finance. They confessed to the Commission that they were only under instructions to remove the money. “
“There was no work done, nothing was done. So that prompted us to arrest the person that directed them. He is now with us and we are taking him to court.”
Meantime, Rimingado has disclosed that PCACC, has reopened investigation of a video clip allegedly showing former Governor Ganduje receiving some Dollars from a contractor in the state.
According to him, “We have reopened the investigation. We have made series of in roads. We have invited experts from different spectrums which include media, Civil Society groups, security experts, and forensic experts for us to have an informed opinion about the video itself. We are contemplating going to them to give evidence before the court. We must take necessary steps for us to do due diligence in order to put our house in order.
“This is something that has to do with image and integrity of Kano State. Many people in Kano State are so keen about and interested in knowing what is happening with this video case. And Insha Allah we will put it behind us soon
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