The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has apprehended five persons including Kwankwaso’s Nephew Musa Garba, Alhaji Mohammed Kabawa, the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, over an alleged multi-billion Naira drugs supply scandal.
Comfirming the arrest, the Public Relations Officer of the commission, Kabir Kabiru, said that the state Chairman of the Association for Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Abdullahi Bashir.who is also the chairman of Tarauni local government council, was also in their custody.
The suspects are accused of connivance to award a contract to Novomed Pharmaceuticals for the supply of drugs to 38 local government areas in the state, which violated public procurement laws.
According to reliable source at the Agency, 38 local governments paid N9.1 million to Novomed for the procurement of drugs, but the drugs were not supplied.
The Managing Director of Novomed Musa Garba Kwankwaso, who is also nephew to Sen.Rabiu Kwankwaso was also arrested .
The Spokesman noted that, while the commission is working to unravel the detail of the scam and bring those responsible to justice, all the suspects are cooperating with the investigation team.
It could be recalled that, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has directed the Anti-graft Commission to commence investigation of the alleged diversition of about N10 million from each of the 44 local government accounts to a company called Novomed for the purchase of medical supplies.
A whistle blower, Dr. Bello Galadanci alleged that 44 local governments in the state were fraudulently instructed to pay N10 million to a company called Novomed for the purchase of medical supplies.
Although, the State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has denied knowledge of the alleged diversion of the money, and the contract to a company, Novamed belonging to the nephew of the former Governor of the State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Ahmad Sorondinki
Follow us on:
