Following Inuwa’s arrest by the state anti-corruption agency, the Assistant Director in the office of Attorney General of Kano State, Salisu Muhammad Tahir, filed an application at the Kano State High Court to prefer charges against him.
The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has said that it has arrested the former Managing Director of Kano State Agricultural Company (KASCO), Bala Muhammad Inuwa, for alleged fraudulent diversion of over N4 billion belonging to the government.
Following Inuwa’s arrest by the state anti-corruption agency, the Assistant Director in the office of Attorney General of Kano State, Salisu Muhammad Tahir, filed an application at the Kano State High Court to prefer charges against him.
Inuwa served under the former governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje, who is currently the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
First charge against Inuwa and other indicted in the application by the Attorney General’s office read, “That you, Bala Inuwa Muhammed, male, adult being a former Managing Director of Kano State Agricultural Supply Company Ltd. (KASCO) and a Founder of Incorporated Trustees of Association of Compassionate Friends (5th Defendants) and signatory to both KASCO and the 5th Defendant, sometime in the month of August, 2022 to 3rd April, 2023 or thereabout the sum of N3,275,685,742.00 (Three Billion, Two Hundred And Seventy Five Million, Six hundred and Eighty Five Thousand, 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 in the name of grant to the state owned company and thereafter you diverted the said sum into the 5th Defendant's Account No. 1011994467 domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc, and you criminally conspired with the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Defendants and transferred the said sum into different accounts belonging to, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Defendants and your Personal Bank Account without any justifiable reason.
“You thereby committed an offence contrary to section 96 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 97 of the Penal Code Law.”
Second charge read, “That you, Bala Inuwa Muhammed, male, adult being a former Managing Director of Kano State Agricultural Supply Company Ltd. (KASCO) and a Founder of Account No.
“Incorporated Trustees of Association of Compassionate Friends (5th Defendants) sometime in the month of August, 2022 to 3rd April, 2023 or thereabout the sum of N3,275,685,742.00 (Three Billion, Two Hundred And Seventy Five Million, Six hundred and Eighty Five Thousand, 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 0005195864 from Kano State Federal Allocation Account No. 4968083012 domiciled in FCMB within Kano Judicial Division being a servant in the employment of Kano State Government and in such capacity entrusted with the said Amount in the name of grant to the state owned company (KASCO) but instead you transferred/diverted the said amount into different accounts including your personal account.
“You thereby committed an offence of Criminal Breach of Trust punishable under section 315 of the Penal Code.”
Third charge stated “That you, Bala Inuwa Muhammed, male, adult being a former Managing Director of Kano State Agricultural Supply Company Ltd. (KASCO) and a sole Signatory of account of a Business Name limestone Processing Links sometime in the month of August, 2022 to 3rd April, 2023 or thereabout the sum of N480,000,000:00k (four Hundred and Eighty Million Thousand naira) only were credited into Kano State Agricultural Supply Company Ltd's (KASCO) Account No. 1014477161 domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc from Kano State Federal Allocation Account No. 4968083012 domiciled in FCMB within Kano Judicial Division in the name of grant to the KASCO but instead you stole the sum of N480, 000,000.00 in the name of limestone processing links and transferred same into account No. 0126068718 domiciled in Union Bank which you personally control, thereafter you transferred the sum of N64,000,000. 00 another account bearing your name, and for your own personal benefit.
“You thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under section 289 and punishable under the section.”
Fourth charge noted “That you, Bala Inuwa Muhammed, male, adult being a former Managing Director of Kano State Agricultural Supply Company Ltd. (KASCO) sometime in the month of August, 2022 to 3rd April, 2023 or thereabout unlawfully transferred the sum of N68, 000,000.00 from Kano State Agricultural Supply Company Ltd's (KASCO) Account No. 1014477161 domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc within Kano Judicial Division to one Mr. Musbahu Suleiman Tahir into his personal account No.1443161268 domiciled in Access Bank for the purpose of obtaining US Dollar, as such you collected the sum of 100,000.00 USD as exchange and at the same time make a false statement to cover the transaction.
“You thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under section 26 of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Law 2008 (as amended).”
Fifth charge read, “That you, Bala Inuwa Muhammed, male, adult being a former Managing Director of Kano State Agricultural Supply Company Ltd. (KASCO) sometime in the month of August, 2022 to 3rd April, 2023 or thereabout unlawfully transferred the sum of N100, 000,000.00 from Kano State Agricultural Supply Company Ltd's (KASCO) Account No. 0005195864 domiciled in Unity Bank within Kano Judicial Division to one Mr. Muhammad Abubakar Yaro into his personal account No.6646339015 domiciled in FCMB under false pretence of supplying Dolomite MARL materials but instead you received US Dollars, in exchange and at the same time make a false statement to cover the transaction.
“You thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under section 26 of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended).”
And the sixth charge stated “That you, Bala Inuwa Muhammed, male, adult being a former Managing Director of Kano State Agricultural Supply Company Ltd. (KASCO) and being an officer in tne public service of Kano State, on or before 24th October 2022 while attempting to convince the staff of Kano State Agricultural Supply Company Ltd. (KASCO) to make false statement in covering your wrong doing, transferred the sum fifteen million naira only (N15, 500,000:00k) to the personal account of the following staff:
“Abdullahi Ibrahim - 5,000,000; Aminu sadik - N2,000,000; Aminu Fagge - N1,000,000; Umar Alhassan - N500,000; Surajo Lawan - N500,000; Safiyanu Sakuwa - 1,000,000; N500,000 and Nura Yusuf - Muhammad Najib Lawan - N5,000,000.
“You thereby committed an offence of corrupt offers to public officers contrary to section 23 of public complaint and Anti-corruption law 2008 (as amended) and punishable under the same section.”
