The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission has uncovered over N3.4 billion allegedly misappropriated by the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II.
The alleged amount was said to have been misappropriated between 2014 and 2017.
This is contained in a preliminary report of investigation conducted by the commission and signed by its Chairman, Mr Muhuyi Magaji.
According to the report, the investigation was in respect of a petition of financial misappropriation levelled against Kano Emirate Council under the present Emir, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II.
The interim report raised four cardinal issues bordering on indictments, amount involved, obstruction of investigation and recommendations.
The report indicated that the Kano Emirate Council had spent over N1.4 billion in various expenditures believed to be fraudulent and unappropriated.
In addition, the Emirate Council was alleged to have spent over N1.9 billion unappropriated on seemingly personal expenditures, making the total sum of the questionable expenditures.
According to the report, the expenditures contravened the provisions of Section 120 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 8 of the Kano State Emirate Council Special Fund Law 2004.
Similarly, the expenditures had also violated Section 314 of Penal Code as well as provisions of Section 26 of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended).
“It is also the opinion of this Commission, based on the available evidence, that Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II continued to undermine the investigation through various means which include giving instruction to all officers invited for clarification to shun the commission’s invitation.
“The act is seriously affecting the process of our statutory responsibility and offends the provisions of Section 25 of the Commission’s enabling Law 2008 (as amended),” the report said.
The report, therefore, recommended that the principal suspect in the person of Muhammadu Sanusi II and all other suspects connected with the case be suspended, pending the final outcome of the investigations.
“This is a necessary administrative disciplinary action aimed at preventing the suspects from further interfering with the commission’s investigations.
“The commission further recommends that the contract awarded to Tri-C Nigeria Limited for renovation of Babban Daki, Kofar Kudu and Gidan Sarki Dorayi should be revoked as the company belongs to one of the suspects in person of Alhaji Mannir Sanusi, (The Chief of Staff in the Emirate),” it said.
According to the report, the company failed to settle the sub-contractor, Cardinal Architecture Ltd, after being duly paid.
It further recommended that appropriate authority should be put in place to oversee the affairs of the Emirate Council in line with established statutes and policies, pending the final outcome of the commission’s investigations.
It also recommended that further legal action should be taken against all the suspects as soon as the final outcome of the investigations were concluded and legal advice accordingly issued.
The Report:
PRELIMINARY REPORT OF INVESTIGATION IN RESPECT OF PETITION OF
FINANCIAL MISAPPROPRIATION AGAINST KANO STATE EMIRATE
COUNCIL UNDER THE PRESENT EMIR MUHAMMADU SANUSI II
INTRODUCTION
The Commission is in receipt of a complaint filed by Concern Friends of Kano
Emirate dated 28th March, 2017 on allegation of Financial Misappropriation
by Kano Emirate Council under the Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II. The
petitioners raised some allegations bordering on spending the funds without
due regards to due process. They alleged that, the Emir (Muhammadu Sanusi
II) engaged in indiscriminate spending without regards to due process and
the rule of law.
In the exercise of its powers under the provisions of Section 9 of the Kano
State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Law 2008 (as
amended) the Commission launched an investigation into the allegation and
in conformity with the provisions of Section 15(2) and (3) of the Commission’s
enabling law wish to forward the preliminary report of the investigation to
the Government. The opinion of the Commission is that disciplinary action
be taken before further legal action.
FACTS OF THE CASE
The case was initially filed before the Commission by Concern Friends of
Kano Emirate on allegation of Financial Misappropriation by Kano Emirate
Council under the Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II. In their petition they raised
some allegations bordering on spending the funds without regards to due
process. They alleged that, the Emir (Muhammadu Sanusi II) spent over
Three Hundred and Sixty Million (N360,000,000.00) only in the provision
of CCTV in the Emir’s Palace. This is in addition to expenditures on hotels,
chartered aircraft and many more which petitioners alleged to be well over
Four Billion Naira.
INVESTIGATION
The investigation commenced in 2017 through inviting the officers who are
directly connected with the maintenance of the Treasury of the Emirate for
information and interview and also requested for relevant documents
covering the said period of investigation which the Emirate Council complied.
In the same vein, the Commission received an information from Ministry of
Planning and Budget and Office of the Auditor General Local Government
Audit in respect of:-
(a) Approved budget for the Emirate Council from 2013 to 2017
(b) Audited Financial Account of the Emirate Council from 2013 to
2017.
The Commission also got statements from the Financial Controller of the
Emirate who is also the Walin Kano Alh. Mahe Bashir Wali, Sarki Waziri the
Deputy Secretary of the Emirate as well as Rufa’I Buhari who is the
Treasurer of the Emirate Council.
At the peak of our work during that period an investigation into the activities
of Emirate Council was also commenced by State House of Assembly. The
Commission then sent a letter to the speaker of Kano State House of
Assembly seeking for clarification as to avoid duplicated investigation as
enshrined under Section 16(1 )(a) of the Kano State Public Complaints and
Anti-Corruption Law 2008 (as amended). The letter was duly acknowledged
but never replied. (Copy attached). The Commission, as a mark of respect
to the House and in fairness to the parties under investigation halted and
suspended its investigation.
It was after the closure of the Assembly’s investigation that the Commission
then decided to re-open and continue with its investigation with a view to
ascertain the true position of things.
While the investigation process was going on, another complaint was lodged
by Cardinal Architecture Ltd. against the Emirate Council, specifically the
Chief of Staff who is the Danburam of Kano. The company alleged that it was
awarded a construction work at Baban Daki and the money was paid to Tri-
c Nigeria Ltd. but was never paid to them. The complaint bothered on Eighty
Four Million Nine Hundred Thousand and Twenty Three Naira Naira
(N84,900,023.00) only which was alleged to have been criminally diverted
for personal use. This prompted the Commission to merge the complaint
together and treat it as one.
In the cause of investigation an invitation letter was served on four personnel
of the Emirate Council for discussion and clarification on some expenditures
incurred and the Commission believed they are at the right position to clarify
but three persons refused to honour the invitation on the instructions of the
Emir. By way of substantiating the assertion, Munnir Sanusi (one of the
invitees) honoured the invitation of the Commission barely a week before
the subsequent matter on a separate case.
The Commission also got necessary information from the hotels, Airline
companies, travelling agencies and telecommunication companies. To
expedite action, the investigation officers also travelled to some of the
affected companies in Abuja and Lagos in order to receive more information
and clarification on some documents in furtherance of the investigation.
FINDINGS
The fund in question is regulated by the provisions of Kano State Emirate
Council Special Fund Law 2004. The law provides under Section 4 that:
4.(1) “Every Local Government Council in the State shall in respect of
each calendar month contribute three percent (3%) of the amount of
its monthly statutory allocation into the fund
(2) The State Government shall in respect of each calendar month
contribute an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the total
contribution of the Local Government Councils in the State made
pursuant to sub-section (1) into the Fund
Section 8 Kano State Emirate Council Special Fund Law 2004 which deals with
the utilization of the funds provides that:
8. The Fund shall be utilized:-
(a) For the payment of salaries, remuneration, allowances and other
fringe benefits of the persons described in the schedule,•
(b) To defray all expenses of working and managing the affairs of
the Council and its properties;
(c) To defray the cost of such works of a capital nature as the
Council may deem necessary from time to time,•
(d) To grant loans and make advances to the persons on such terms
and conditions as the council may approve,• and
(e) To defray operational expenses that may be incurred in the
course of the general administration of the funds.
The schedule to which the above section relates provides interal ia that
1. Emirate Councils and their staff;
2. Other employees of the Emirate Council”
3. Royal Guard (Dogara!),-
4. Palace Staff (Yaran sark!),•
5. Persons employed for the administration of the Fund
The Law also mandates the preparation of the budget by the Emirate Council
which is required to be transmitted to the Governor for necessary action
apparently in conformity with Section 11 of the Kano State Emirate Council
Special Fund Law 2004.
Investigation revealed that the Emirate Council failed to forward their
estimate to the appropriate authorities as required by Law establishing the
fund for consideration.
❖ From 2013 to 2017 Fifteen Million Naira (N 15,000,000.00) only was
approved as budget for the Emirate annually based on the submission
of the Ministry of Planning and Budget vide communication No.
MPB/PLN/S/309/V.l/62 dated 26th April, 2017. (Copy attached).
This suggest that, in the first place there was no budgetary provision
to authorize all the alleged expenditures.
❖ The Commission also got a statement from Financial Controller who
confirmed that the Emirate Council approves its budget which
indicated a gross violation of Section 120 of the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Section 11 of the Kano
State Emirate Council Special Fund Law 2004 as well as Section 26 of
the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Law 2008 (as
amended).
❖ In the cause of the Commission’s investigation some expenditures that
were incurred without following due process or appears to be
suspicious were uncovered. Huge sums of money were transferred to
some banks accounts which were claimed to be companies’ accounts.
However, the companies appears to be either unregistered with the
Corporate Affairs Commission or dormant that cannot appear in the
publ ic search of the companies register. Investigations also shows that
those unregistered companies are linked to some of the identified
suspects in the emirate council. Investigation will later reveal the
beneficial owners of those entities.
The suspicious transactions are as follows:-
1. MASPHAL ASSOCIATE:
The company was paid the sum of W100,000,000.00 in 2014 and
W39,565,475.00 in 2015.
2. PROJECT PLANNER AND DEVELOPER COMP. LTD
The company was paid the total sum of W24, 163,776.17 in 2014.
3. MODERN SOCIETY CONST. COMPANY
The company received the sum of WB,749,107.00 in 2014 as payment
for work.
4. WAVES STUDIO:
The sum of W9,484,500.00 was paid to the company in 2014, the sum
of N 1,977,900.00 in 2015, the sum of N4,678,500.00 in 2016 and the
sum ofW616, 730.00 in 2017.
5. CHOSEN ONE GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED:
The sum of N4,666,950.00 was paid to Chosen One Global
Technologies Limited in 2015
6. FLOORS ARCHO CONSULTANTS:
The sum of W22,691,280.00 was paid to the company in 2014,
N32,586,333.00 in 2015 and the sum of W1,343,903.00 in 2017.
7. ICX SOLUTION LTD:
The company was paid the sum of W 10,445,820.00 in 2015 and another
N6,298,680.00 in 2016
8. HIKIMA VENTURES/S. HIKIMA & SON:
The sum of N4,041, 165.76 was paid to this unregistered company in
2014, W27,947,201 .90 was also paid in 2015, W19,162,163.50 in 2016
and lastly W5,759,825.75 was paid in 2017.
9. ABUSAIBA INVESTMENT:
The sum ofN24,184,151.75 was paid to the company in 2014 despite
been not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
10. PHILKO LIMITED
In 2014 the sum of WS0,000,000.00 was paid to the PHILKO Limited.
11. CEM NIG. LTD.
The sum of W3,880,000.00 was paid to the company in 2014 and
W372, 141 .00 in 2015 was paid to the company.
12. MOFHAN ENTERPRISES LTD
The sum of W1,312,500.00 was paid to MOFHAN Enterprises Ltd. in
2014 by the Kano Emirate Council.
13. MODI INVESTMENT LTD.
The sum of W38,953,552.00 was paid to the company by the Emirate
Council in 2014.
14. DABO GATE IDEAL RESOURCES:
The payment of W 175,175,560.00 was effected to Dabo Gate Ideal
Resources in 2014.
15. LUGO SUPPLIERS:
The sum of W14,854,500.00 was paid to the Company in 2014 by the
Emirate Council.
16. JUBAILI BROS ENGE. NIG. LTD:
The payment of W3,230,829.00 was made to Jubaili Bros Eng. Nig. Ltd.
in 2016.
17. CARDINAL ARCHITECTURE:
In 2015 the sum W30,000,000.00 were paid by Emirate Council to the
company.
18. SHUNT ENGINEERING CO.
The sum of W-48,057,747.50 was paid to Shunt Engineering Co. in 2014
and also the sum of W22,478,491 .27 was paid in 2015 and another
W29,261 ,949.93 was paid in 2016.
19. OCHOR MECHPLANT ENGR. LTD:
The sum of W 1,570,000.00 was paid to the company in 2014 by the
Emirate Council.
20. CONTINENTAL OFFSHOW LTD.:
The sum of W38,750,000.00 was paid by Emirate Council to the
company in 2014.
21. MAWUD Nig. Ltd.:
The sum of W583,000.00 was paid to MAWUD Nig. Ltd. in 2014 by the
Emirate Council.
❖ All the purported companies listed above allegedly carried out
contracts with the Emirate Council. These companies are not in
existence, as search for their corporate status came out negative and
virtually all the purposes for the expenditures, the amount involved and
the legal status of the companies revealed prima facie case of fraud in
the management of the Emirate Council funds as there were no
budgetary provisions to justify the expenditure.
❖ In 2014 the sum of Fourty Three Million, Two Hundred and Sixty Eighty
Thousand Five Hundred Naira (W43,268,500.00) were expended in the
fueling of Generator. Thirty Nine Million Six Hundred and Ninety
Thousand (N39,690,000.00) only were expended on fueling in 2015,
Twenty Two Million Three Hundred and Seventeen Thousand One
Hundred and Seventy Four Naira (N22,317, 174.00) only in 2016 and
Twelve Million Four Hundred and Ninety Six Thousand Eight Hundred
Naira (N12,496,800.00) only were expended in 2017 all in fueling. To
sum it all One hundred and Seventeen Million Seven Hundred and
Seventy Two Thousand Four Hundred and Seventy Four Naira
(N117,772,474.00) only were expended on fueling from 2014- 2017 by
the Emirate Council, the disparity in the amount so involved, the ratio
at which the fuel was consumed from 43 to 22 Million called for
suspicion and indicated acts of misappropriation and fraud.
❖ Also in the cause of investigation an observation was made on a
transfer of One Hundred and Five Million, Five Hundred and Ninety Five
Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Five Thousand (N105,595,755.00)
from the Emirate Council’s account to an individual account bearing
the name of one Engr. Sunusi Ti]ani who happened to be the Technical
Officer to the Emirate Council at United Bank for Africa (UBA) during
the period of 2014-2017 at different occasions. The largest which is
Twenty Two Million Seven Hundred and Seventy Eight Thousand Two
Hundred and Thirty Three Naira Ninety Two Kobo (N22,778,233.92)
only was transferred on 22nd September, 2015 . It was observed going
by the record of expenditures from the said account that virtually all
the money were withdrawn personally (self-withdrawal). This is a red
flag for corruption and there is no way an individual not a corporate
entity will attract such payments from Government at different interval
in a legitimate transaction. This is also another trace of alleged corrupt
practices and final investigation will reveal all the facts of the case.
❖ The sum of Fifty Four Million One Hundred and Eleven Thousand Fifty
Five Naira (N54, 111,055.00) were expended by the Emirate Council
from 2014 to 2017 on payment of airtime/data to Airtel Network Ltd.
mostly on personal phone numbers. In his statement, Isah Bayero
denied using his line to incur expenditure worth 25.6 Million while the
remaining 29M was incurred by the Emir, his wives and Mannir Sanusi.
Failure of the appearance of the invited suspects made it impossible
for the Commission to conclude on this matter.
❖ Another area of concern which revealed a prima facie case of criminal
bre~ch of trust by servant is where the sum of One Hundred and Fourty
Four Million Three Hundred and Sixty Two Thousand Three Hundred
and Eighty One Naira (N144,362,381 .00) only was spent on Hotel
Accommodation, payment of chartered Aircraft and payment of Air
ticket by the Kano State Emirate Council from 2014 – 2017. Out of this
sum Thirty Million Seven Hundred and Sixty Two Thousand Naira
(N30, 762,000.00) only was spent on Chartered flights while the sum of
One Hundred and Thirteen Million Six Hundred Thousand Three
Hundred and Eighty One Naira (N113,600,381 .00) only was spent for
hotel accommodation and air ticket for the Emir’s travels. Investigation
revealed that the purpose of the expenditure which was never
budgeted for is unknown and all efforts by the Commission in
requesting the Council to provide evidence to justify the travels as
being official proved abortive.
Another complaint was filed before the Commission by Cardinal Architecture
Ltd. against the Emirate Council. Specifically against the Chief of Staff who is
the Danburam of Kano on alleged nonpayment of construction work at
Babban Daki.
The complainant alleged the diversion of the payment to a company called
Tri-c Nigeria Limited. The complaint involved the sum of Eighty Four Million
Nine Hundred Thousand and Twenty Three Naira Naira
(N84,900,023.00) only alleged to have been diverted for personal use. In
order to avoid duplication in the investigation, the Commission decided to
merge the complaints together and treat them as one.
It was discovered that, initially the contract was awarded to Tri-c for the
renovation of Babban Daki, Kofar Kudu and Gidan Sarki at Dorayi which the
company sub-contracted the contract to another company (Cardinal
Architecture Limited) for the Babban Daki. A payment was made in respect
of the renovation of Babban Daki but Tri-c Nig. Ltd. failed to settle the sub-
contractor (Cardinal Architecture Limited).
SUMMARY
It is the opinion of this Commission that Kano Emirate Council under the
Chairmanship of the Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II has expended the sum of
One Billion Four Hundred and Fifty Million Six Hundred and Fourty One
Thousand Fourty Eight Naira Fifty Three Kobo (N1,450,641,048.53) only
in various expenditures that is believed to be fraudulent and unappropriated.
In addition to One Billion Nine Hundred and Eighty One Million Four
Hundred Fourty Nine Thousand Seven Hundred and Fourty Nine Naira
Fourty One Kobo (N1,981,449,749.41) unappropriated but seemingly
personal expenditures, making the total sum of questionable expenditures
uncovered by this investigation to the tune of Three Billion Four Hundred
and Thirty Two Million Ninety Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety
Seven Naira Ninety Four Kobo (N3,432,090,797.94) only between 2014
to 2017. This expenditures contravene the provisions of Section 120 of the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Section
8 of the Kano State Emirate Council Special Fund Law 2004, Section 314 of
Penal Code as well as provisions of Section 26 of the Kano State Public
Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended).
It is also the opinion of this Commission, based on the available evidence
that Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II continued to undermine the investigation
through various means which include giving instruction to all officers invited
for clarification to shun the Commission’s invitation. An act which is seriously
affecting the process of our statutory responsibility and offends the
provisions of Section 25 of the Commission’s enabling Law 2008 (as
amended).
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the aforementioned findings and pursuant to the provisions of
Section 18 (4) of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Law
2008 (as amended), the Commission hereby recommends as follows:-
(a) In view of the prima facie cases of criminal breach of trust by servant,
official corruption and other related offences contrary to the Penal
Code Law, Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Law
2008 (as amended) and other existing Laws, the Commission
recommends that the principal suspect in the person of Muhammad
Sunusi II (the Emir of Kano) and all other suspects connected to this
case or serving in the Kano State Emirate Council should be
suspended pending the final outcome of the investigations. This is
a necessary administrative disciplinary action aimed at preventing
the suspects from further interfering with the Commission’s
investigations.
(b) The Commission further recommends that the contract awarded to
Tri-C Nigeria Limited for the renovation of Babban Daki, Kofar Kudu
and Gidan Sarki Dorayi should be revoked as the company belongs
to one of the suspects in person of Alh. Mannir Sanusi (The Chief of
Staff in the Emirate). The company failed to settle the sub-contractor
(Cardinal Architecture Limited) after been duly paid. Cardinal
Architecture Limited should be paid for the work carried out in the
contract.
(c) The appropriate authority should be put in place to oversee the
affairs of the Kano Emirate Council in line with established statutes
and policies pending the final outcome of the Commission’s
investigations.
(d) The Commission’s further recommends for further legal action to be
taken against all the suspects as soon as the final outcome of
investigations is concluded and a legal advice accordingly issued
out.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the above recommendations are hereby forwarded to your
esteem office for further necessary action, please.
Signed.
MUHUYI MAGAJI RIMINGADO
