The government of Kano State has expressed “utter disappointment and surprise” with Monday’s arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Gambo Sallau, and other principal officers and Clerk.
The government of Kano State has expressed “utter disappointment and surprise” with Monday’s arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Gambo Sallau, and other principal officers and Clerk.
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A statement by Halilu Ibrahim Dantiye, the Director of Press and Public Relations to Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, stated that the officials were apparently arrested in connection with the government’s 2013 budget amendment, which the governor has already signed into law.
“It is crystal clear that the above mentioned public officials were arrested by the EFCC on the orders from the above, because of the legislators’ defection to APC, in support of Governor Kwankwaso,” the statement said. It stated that the officials were only exercising their constitutional responsibilities of ensuring that budgets are properly articulated to ensure probity and accountability in public expenditure and enable the citizens enjoy the dividends of democracy.
“This action is obviously to intimidate and cow them into submission for choosing to move to the progressive fold,” the government said. “This action is not only despicable and absurd but also capable of igniting crisis in the polity, thereby breaching the relative peace that is being enjoyed in Kano state. It is regrettable that the EFCC is allowing itself to be a tool of witch-hunt in the hands of powers that be.”
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The statement confirmed that in addition to Alhani Sallau, also arrested were the Deputy Speaker, Isyaku Ali Danja, the Chief Whip, the Deputy Chief Whip, the Majority Leader and the Deputy Majority Leader.
The Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, and the Clerk of the House were also arrested.
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