Kano committed to anti-corruption war despite criticism, says anti-graft boss

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Kano committed to anti-corruption war despite criticism, says anti-graft boss

The Executive Chairman of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission, Muhuyi Rimin Gado, on Monday, claimed that detractors, believed to have been sponsored by suspected corrupt public officials under investigation are hell-bent on distracting the commission from discharging its constitutional responsibilities.

Briefing newsmen, Muhuyi categorically stated that no amount of pressure or intimidation would deter the commission from arresting and probing suspected corrupt public officials.

Furthermore, he dismissed, as false, recent allegations of corruption within the commission’s management, describing it as the handiwork of those, who had skeletons in their cupboard.

“You are aware of unfolding developments in the commission in recent times. These are orchestrations of those, who have clear cases of corruption to answer. They are doing everything humanly possible to frustrate the efforts of the commission, but we are not deterred.

“Just recently, a law firm defending the case of N4bn fraud at KASCO, which is already before a Kano High Court went as far as writing the Inspector General of Police for withdrawal of Police personnel attached to the commission.

“Their argument was that the commission lacks the power to investigate corrupt public office holders. To us, this is laughable and we will not give in to such cheap blackmail by those, who siphoned public money to evade justice,” the Chairman said.

He further stated that since the case is in court, “and we have enough evidence to establish our case, we are not losing sleep. We will remain focused; and will continue trying our best towards ensuring that public funds and property diverted into private pockets will be recovered.”

Rimingado stressed that nothing would stop it from ridding the state of corrupt public officeholders.

A subsisting Court of Appeal judgment, according to Rimingado empowers the Commission to investigate, not only executive members of government and government agencies but also those working in the judiciary.

He further stated that “we are not deterred in all our investigations because we have weighty allegations against them. We have a Court of Appeal judgment, which empowers the Commission to investigate, not only the staff or former executive members of Kano State executive arm of government, but even those working in the judiciary.

“The Court of Appeal said the Commission has the powers, without even writing a letter to the Chief Judge, to investigate a matter.

“So, as far as we are concerned, they are only postponing the D-day. Nothing would stop the state from prosecuting or initiating criminal proceedings against any person, because Section 211 of the Constitution is so explicit. So, as far as we are concerned, we are not deterred.

“I believe we are on course. We will continue with our Investigations, and we will try, as much as we can to expunge corrupt practices from the system.”