In what appears to be a response to the claim by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), that the former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, was not being investigated as there were no petitions against him, a Kano-based non-governmental organization has challenged the anti-graft agency by forwarding a strong petition against the Senator alleging corruption and abuse of office.
The group, Grassroots Anti-Corruption Awareness Network Initiative, was responding to a claim may by the Kano Zonal Head of the EFCC.
The organization claims in the petition that as governor, Kwankwaso procured for himself four brand new Armored Toyota Land Cruiser Jeeps during his governorship of the State between 2015 – 2019 as a purported pension right for the period 2007 – 2011, in total disregard of the laws of the State and the extant laws on pension rights.
The group further affirmed that Kwankwaso undervalued and arbitrarily approved for himself the retention of utility vehicles meant for the office of the Governor of Kano State, contrary to the Pension Right Law of the Governor and Deputy Governor of Kano State, 2007.
To corroborate its claim, the organization claimed that in a memorandum, Ref. SSG/AGS/R/39/TI/66 dated May 28th , 2015, the then Secretary to the State SG Rabiu Sulaiman Bichi was asked to retain 2 no official Toyota Prado jeeps donated to the state by Telecom company (MTN) with Chassis no. GTEBX9FJBC5016365 and Toyota Hilux chassis No. 89746 attached to the security team of the office of the Governor for his personal use, a request which was approved.
The group further alleged that Bichi, who is alleged to have benefitted from the release via a memo ref SSG/AGS/39/S.I/I/V.I dated June 18th, 2015, purportedly communicated to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso a few days to his exit he could retain an Official Vehicle Armoured Toyota Lexus (Chasis No. JTJHY7AX604127038 valued at the cost of N47,000,000 and used for only two years, at the give–away price of N3,000,000.00 (Three Million Naira) only.
Despite that grievous error, the group noted that the so-called payment for the car was still made by the Kano State Government.
Similarly, the petition continued, the SSG, in a similar memo ref SSG/AGS/R/39/S.I/V.I dated May 18th , 2015 also communicated to Governor Kwankwaso to retain an Armoured ESCALADE E85 ETHANOL (Chassis no. IGYS3GEFICR192240) attached to the office of the governor, valued at N65million and used for only two years, at the give-away price of N3million.
The group noted that all the conveyance for the release of the vehicles to the former governor were collected on his behalf by the author of the memos.
The petition further alleged that on February 17th, 2015, the governor approved for himself two brand new armored Toyota Land Cruiser Jeeps Chassis nos. JTMHY74J8E4028026 and XLE4TIVRIFK5EU544913 that had each been purchased at the cost of N59.8m, as his purported Pension Right for 2015 – 2019.
Also, on February 23rd , 2015) the said Senator approved for himself two other brand new Armored Toyota Land Cruiser Jeeps, Chassis No. JTMH7AD7E4022945 and JTMAY7AJ3E4027995, as his purported Pension Right for 2015 – 2011.
The group said that each of the two additional cars had been bought for N59.8m.
The organization stressed that all the self-approval actions of the former Governor, now Senator representing Kano Central Senatorial Zone, are contrary to the anti-corruption laws as constitute unlawful self-enrichment.
Expressing its unflinching support for Muhammadu Buhari administration’s battle against corruption, the Grassroots Anti-Corruption Awareness Network Initiative pledged to continue its petitions against corrupt officials that are siphoning the wealth of the nation to enrich themselves.
It would be recalled that the same NGO was responsible for a similar petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission against another former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau. About that petition, the group noted that in a plea bargain, the former Minister of Education was to return to the state government the sum of N100m.
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