Commission says no ulterior motive in N6B Kano Emirate Council Probe

Mr Muhiyi Magaji, the Chairman of the anti-graft agency, made the clarification in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Tuesday.

“The investigation is not in any way politically motivated but was aimed at getting to the root of the allegations,” Muhiyi said.

The agency in carrying out the probe, is fulfilling its mandate as established by the law, he said.

“I wonder why people are questioning the reason behind the investigation and at the same time trying to pre-empt what is being investigated,” Muhiyi said.

He said that no amount of pressure would deter the commission from carrying out its duties, not even from the state governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje.

“I will not succumb to any pressure not even from the governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje. I will discharge my duties without fear or favour because I know I will account for my actions in the hereafter.

“Until and until the allegations of the whistleblowers are established or otherwise, people should not preempt the investigation,” said Muhiyi.

He called on Nigerians to continue to support the commission in the current fight against corruption in the state and the country at large in order to deepen good governance.

The Emirate Council is expected to honour the invitation of the state anti-graft agency on May 2 to explain how the alleged N6 billion was expended.

NAN recalls that whistleblowers had written the commission of an alleged N6 billion expenditure incurred by the Emir of Kano, Mahammadu Sanusi II, since he ascended the throne in 2014.

“The commission is wading into the matter to establish whether or not Sections 120, 121 of the Constitution and Section 26 of the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended) of Kano State, dealing with public expenditure, had been complied with,’’ said the chairman.

However, reacting to the development, the Kano Emirate Council on Monday said it spent N4,314,476,542.94 since the revered first class traditional ruler assumed the throne.

The Walin Kano and the emirate council’s Finance Councillor, Alhaji Mahe Bashir Wali, told newsmen at the Emir’s Palace that the council had from June 8, 2014 to April 11, 2017, spent N4,314,476,542.94, and not N6 billion as alleged.

According to him, N1,893,378,927.38 was the exact amount inherited by the Sanusi II.

Giving the breakdown of the expenditures done during Sanusi’s three years in office, Wali said out of the N1.8 billion he inherited, N152,627,723.00 was paid to Dabo Gate Company for the procurement of furniture for the palace.

“This is because after the demise of the late emir, all his belongings, including the furniture were removed and distributed to his heirs in accordance with Islamic injunction. Therefore new furniture was purchased for Emir Sanusi,” Wali said.

The senior councillor added that the sum of N108 million was paid to the family of late Emir Ado Bayero by the council in respect of the late emir’s personal cars inherited by the present emir. The cars now belonged to the emirate council.

He also refuted allegation of spending N15,458,660.00 as traveling expenses, saying the amount was rather spent on construction and renovation of Fadancin Dare wing of the palace.

He said N142,800,000.00 was spent on the purchase of two Bullet Proof Vehicles as approved by the State Government in a letter from the SSG’s office with reference No: SSG/S/D/A/36/TI/109, and dated Sept. 17, 2014, following an attack on the late emir by Boko Haram.

Wali also explained that N154,873,000.00 was also spent on the purchase and replacement of the vehicles that were destroyed when the emir’s convoy was attacked by Boko Haram insurgents.

However, he admitted that N37,054,192.06 was paid to the Airtel mobile service providers for the emir’s mobile phone services, noting that majority of the charges were for roaming.

“It is also on the record that after Emir Sanusi assumed office, the council reviewed the salaries and remuneration allowances of his staff which include salaries of council members, district heads and all other employees of the council.

“As result of the review, the monthly spending on salary rose from N9.910 million to N36 million,” the councillor said.

He also said the council raised “two vouchers of N6,993,203.00 and N5,560,235.00 to Western Union being cost of Air tickets for the emir’s entourage, not the emir himself who used to pay for his ticket”.

"The emirate council only spent N14.732 million on chartering domestic air flight for the emir twice since he assumed office.

“The first was in September 2014, when the sum of N4,651,000.00 was spent on the emir’s trip to Sokoto to pay homage to the Sultan of Sokoto.

“And the second was in January 2015 when N9,071,000.00 was spent on his trip to the University of Benin for his installation as the Chancellor of the university,’’ Wali stressed.

Besides, he dismissed allegations that the council had purchased two Rolls Royce cars for the emir, explaining that the two cars were donated to him by his friends.