More trouble for Emir Sanusi as Kano anti-corruption agency unveils 5 heavy allegations against Emirate Council

With the friction between Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and Kano governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, swaying into a messy dimension, the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission in the state has come fore with fives weighty allegations against the Emirate council led by the embattled emir.

The anti-corruption commission, in its recent findings summarised into a 19-page preliminary report, accused Sanusi-led Kano Emirate Council of financial crime bothering on funds mismanagement and illegal award of contract, The Guardian reports.

Legit.ng notes that the fresh allegations were brought fore after Governor Ganduje divided Sanusi's emirate into five, raising debates among political commentators.

The development has also been described by observers including former presidential candidate, Kingsley Moghalu, as politically motivated ploy to whittle down the monarch's power, influence, and to "quash independent voice"

The report, which was signed by Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, said it uncovered these financial allegations against the council.

1. N117 million to fuel generators between 2014 to 2017

In its reports, the anti-graft commission disclosed that the Kano Emirate council expended N117 million fuelling generators from 2014 to 2017, adding that the council expended N43 million in 2014, N39 million in 2015, N22 million in 2016 and N12 million in 2017.

2. Awarded of illegal contracts to 21 shell companies

Also in the reports, the commission claimed that huge sums of money were transferred to some banks accounts which were claimed to be companies’ accounts.

The commission said the companies discovered in the course of its investigation were not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, and were linked to some of the officers in the emirate council.

3. N54 million expended on airtime and data

In its finding, the commission also revealed that the emirate council spent a whopping amount of N54 million on payment for airtime data subscription to Airtel Network Ltd mostly on personal phone numbers with the period of 2014 to 2017.

4. N105 million to an individual account

More shocking about the report is the clam by the commission that N105 million was sent from the Emirate Council’s account to an individual account in the name of one Engr. Sunusi Tijani at United Bank for Africa (UBA), between 2014-2017.

It added that all the money were withdrawn personally by the receivers who were found to be officers of the council.

5. N144 million on hotel accommodation and flight tickets

The commission also noted that from 2014 to 2017, N144,362,381 was spent on hotel accommodation, payment of chartered Aircraft and payment of air tickets by the Kano State Emirate Council.

It added that N30 million was also spent on Chartered flights while the sum of N113 million was spent on hotel accommodation and air ticket for the Emir’s travels.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the Kano anti-corruption agency of the government had reopened an investigation into the finances of the Kano Emirate Council, the body overseeing the state’s traditional institutions headed by Emir Sanusi.

Coming shortly after the 2019 general elections, the move was reportedly linked with the emir’s alleged display of open partisanship during the polls.