The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) are jointly conducting investigations into the activities of Muhyi Rimingado, Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission.
The focus of the probe centers on Rimingado’s tenure during the administration of former Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, who is currently the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress.
Rimingado, who is currently probing Ganduje, for alleged corruption over a viral video showing the ex-governor allegedly receiving kickbacks in dollars from a contractor, had vowed to investigate the video and bring Ganduje to book if found guilty.
A letter from the EFCC, sighted by GOOD EVENING NIGERIA, asked Rimingado to direct the PCACC’s Director of Finance and Accounts to appear for an interview at its headquarters in Jabi, Abuja on August 29. Also, the CCB requested for documents concerning his stewardship.
“In view of the above, you are requested to kindly release the Director of Finance and Accounts to report for an interview with the undersigned through the team leader AFF/TC at Plot 301/302 Institution and Research District Jabi, along Airport Road, Abuja on Monday, 29th August, 2023 by 10:00 hours,” the EFCC letter read.
“He should come along with the following information; details of total funds released to your office by the Office of the Accountant General of Kano state from 2019 to 2021 fiscal year.
“Details of total funds released to your office by the Kano state ministry of local government from 2019 to 2021 including contracts executed and details of beneficiary accounts,” the correspondence added.
The CCB letter, however, read in part, “Consequently, you are kindly requested to furnish the Bureau with Certified True Copies of detailed information on the following: All contractual undertakings by the commission from 2016 to date.
“All records of recoveries, forfeiture and management of the same from 2016 — date; records of all financial allocations to the commission, including donor agency funds from 2016 to date, status of all the commission’s buildings across the local government of the state.”
While, both federal agencies have asked the PCACC’s chair to furnish them with financial records and details of forfeited properties, there are reports that the abrupt investigation on Rimigado is an attempt by Ganduje to frustrate the ongoing probing spearheaded by Rimigado against the APC governor.
Notably in 2022, Rimingado was sacked by the former Kano State governor on allegations bordering on abuse of office.
However, on June 21, 2023, the incumbent governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, reinstated Rimingado as the Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission, in compliance with a directive from an industrial court, a directive previously disregarded by Ganduje.
Among other investigations into Ganduje’s administration, Rimigado led PCACC has recently dragged a former Managing Director of the state Agricultural Supply Company Ltd (KASCO), Alhaji Bala Mohammed, and four others to court over alleged diversion of over N4 billion grant into private accounts.
The application, dated August 3, 2023, and signed by Assistant Director, Kano State Ministry of Justice, Salisu M. Tahir (ESQ), and Principal State Counsel, Kano State Ministry of Justice, Zaharaddeen H. K/Mata (ESQ), read in part that:
“Sometime in the month of August, 2022, to 3rd April, 2023, or thereabout the sum of N4,67,290,742.00 (Four Billion, Sixty Seven Million, Seven Hundred And Forty Two Naira) only were credited into Kano State Agricultural Supply Company Ltd’s ( KASCO) Account No. 1014477161, domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc and Unity Bank Account No. 0005195864, from Kano State Federal Allocation Account No. 4968083012 domiciled in FCMB within Kano Judicial Division,
“all in the name of grant, but you dishonestly misappropriated and converted the whole sum belonging to Kano State Government meant for grant to the state owned company (KASCO) to other accounts, including your personal accounts,
“you thereby committed an offence under Section 308 punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code Law.”
Meanwhile, there are talks that EFFC and CCB investigating Rimigado may be linked current probing against Ganduje, who now holds considerable power in Nigeria, being the chairman of the ruling party and a close ally of President Tinubu.
Solace Base, a Kano rooted online media platform, quoted Kano State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Barr. Haruna Dederi to have raised the possibility of Ganduje to be using federal anti-corruption agencies as shield from investigation and prosecution.
”Honestly, you cannot rule it out that the former governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is deploying federal might to stop various corruption allegations against him, believing that the federal anti-corruption agencies can be used to shield him from investigation and prosecution, ”Dederi said.
Kano State government or its agencies cannot be intimidated or cowed from carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.”
Neither EFCC and the CCB nor Ganduje have reacted to this development.