Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has insisted that the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi ll must appear before it for questioning over alleged land racketeering to the tune of over N1bn.
Addressing a press conference yesterday in Kano, Chairman of the commission, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado said the emir was expected to appear on Monday, March 9, 2020 by 10am.
Earlier, the emir was expected to appear before the commission’s team of investigators yesterday (Thursday), according to an invitation letter dated March 2, 2020 that was addressed to him, a copy of which was sighted by this reporter.
However, while the commission awaits the arrival of his Highness, the emir’s legal representative from Dikko & Mahmoud Chambers sent a letter to the commission requesting for a shift in date to 25th March 2020.
The solicitors reminded the commission that its power to investigate crime is being challenged in Suit No K/208/2019.
The solicitors also requested from the commission, the petition leading to the investigation; the names of the companies of interest to his royal Highness the emir; and the statements and documents obtained in the absence of its client.
It was based on this request that the emir’s solicitors demanded the commission to postpone the invitation to 25th March, 2020 pending the issues raised.
However, chairman of the commission, insisted that the agency was empowered to open fresh investigation on any body found wanting in anycorrupt practices.
Barr. Rimingado explained that emir Sanusi is being invited to clear himself over allegation of illegal sells of government property, adding that the fresh investigation was sequel to an alleged violation of provision of Sections 22, 23 and 23 of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Law 2008 (As amended) by the emir in the management of land reserve called Gandun Sarki spread across the state.
“Preliminary findings suggest that, a company; Country Wide House Ltd served as a corporate vehicle to allegedly launder the sum of N520m being proceed of 20 hectares of land in Darmanawa phase II under the former right of occupancy CON-RESS 2016-503 illegally sold to Messer family Home Fund Limited allegedly on the instance of His Highness the emir of Kano.
“Investigation further reveals that, some of the proceeds of the sales remitted to the emirate council bank account can be traced to the companies of interest to His Highness.
“His highness is also alleged to have ordered for the payment of N175,000,000.00 to Messr Apple Integrated Resources as facilitation fee for the agreement of provision for side and services at Darmanawa 33.4 Hectares by Messr City scape ltd against the decision of the emirate council’s meeting of the 8th June 2016, which rejected such payment to the company, which the commission’s investigation confirmed that has never participated in any dealing with the City Scape arrangement with Ado Bayero Royal City Trust Fund,” he said.
He further said investigation indicated that all the alleged illegal transactions for the sale of landed properties at Darmanawa, Hotoro and Bubbugaje belonging to the Kano state emirate council were done by the trio of Shehu Muhammad Dankadai (Sarkin Shanu), Sarki Abdullahi Ibrahim (Makaman Kano) and Mustapha Kawu Yahaya (Dan isan Lapai) based on the alleged instruction of his highness the emir of Kano.
“These persons have made useful statements to the commission that necessitated inviting His highness to clarify some issues. So, I wish to categorically state that, this commission is entering a new investigation brought forward by a whistleblower on 29th December, 2019 and is not related to an earlier investigation which is still subject matter of civil suit.”
On the request by Dikko and Mahmoud chambers, he said: “The commission has drew the attention of the solicitors of the decision of an Appeal Court that affirmed the decision of Kano State High Court which settled the powers of the commission to investigate allegations of corruption against any person in the state as decided in the case of Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission & one other vs Baba Salisu & 26 others, 2019 LPELR 47107 CA.”
The chairman also said the commission had denied the requested documents at the moment, as according to him doing so may jeopardise the commission’s investigation. However, he assured to make its findings and the documents requested available to the solicitors during interviewing of their client.
