The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested five persons, including Alhaji Mohammed Kabawa, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, over an alleged multi-billion naira drugs supply scam.
Also arrested was the chairman of the state branch of Association for Local Governments of Nigeria, Alhaji Abdullahi Bashir.
The Eagle Online is reporting that Bashir is the Chairman of Tauroni Local Government Area.
Similarly, the anti-graft agency arrested the Managing Director of Novomed Pharmaceuticals, Garba Kwankwaso, who is the nephew of the National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Senator Rabi’u Kwankwaso, in connection with the alleged scam.
The suspects were accused of connivance to award a contract to Novomed for the supply of drugs to the 38 local government areas of the state, thus violating public procurement laws.
Preliminary investigations revealed that each of the 38 LGAs paid N9.150 million to Novomed for the procurement of drugs, but the drugs were not supplied.
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A source close to the case told the News Agency of Nigeria: “We have 44 LGAs in the state and they succeeded in collecting N9.150 from 38 councils for supply of the drugs that were not supplied.
“The findings also revealed that all the suspects are cooperating with the commission’s investigation team.”
The Public Relations Officer of the commission, Kabiru Kabiru, confirmed the arrests, adding that the investigation was ongoing.
Kabiru said the commission was working to unravel the full extent of the alleged scam and bring those responsible to justice.
He also confirmed that the suspects were in the commission’s custody as at the time of filing this report.
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