Emir of Kano may be suspended as investigation of spending begins
*Kano Commission says no ulterior motive in monarch’s probe
The Kano State Government may place the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, on suspension to give way for “proper investigation” of the emirate council’s finances.
The idea of the suspension was reportedly promoted by politicians and elders from within and outside the state close to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
The DEFENDER gathered that some prominent Northern leaders were putting pressure on Ganduje to depose the monarch following the latter’s recent outburst.
Recall that Sanusi recently cried out that some Northern elites do not like him and that they were after him, over his critical comments against the North.
Sanusi was installed by Ganduje’s predecessor, Rabiu Kwankwaso who are both not in good terms at the moment.
The two fell out less than a year after Ganduje succeeded his former principal.
A source close to Kano heavyweights told our correspondent Tuesday morning that “Ganduje may be favourably disposed to the suspension idea because Kwankwaso was the one who helped Sanusi become Emir.
“You will recall that the ruling PDP was then rooting for Bayero and even rushed to issue a statement congratulating him before announcement.
“So, it was Kwankwaso, who rallied round and used his power as governor to crush Kano and Abuja forces.
“Now that Kwankwaso who installed Sanusi and Ganduje are sworn enemies, the Governor may decide to spite the Senator by showing he is in charge.
“Let me add that this probe issue would never have come up in the first place if Kwankwaso and Ganduje were still best of friends”.
Already, the Kano state Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Agency (KSPCACA) is set to investigate the Muhammadu Sanusi-led emirate council over an alleged misappropriation of billions of naira supposedly left behind by his predecessor, the late Alhaji Ado Bayero.
According to letter of summons signed by the agency’s Director of Operations, Sulaiman Gusau, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), and written to Sanusi, the agency is to probe activities in the emirate since 2015 when the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor ascended the throne.
Sanusi, however, denied the allegation, insisting that he has only spent less than N3billion since his installation.
The probe followed a petition written to the commission after an online newspaper, Daily Nigerian, had published details of transactions on the emirate’s bank accounts, alleging that the emir had frittered away over N4bn he met in the accounts to finance a flamboyant lifestyle.
The publication, which quoted copiously from transactions on the council’s accounts, alleged that most of the money was used to pay for luxury cars, chattered flights, internet and phone bills, among others.
Meanwhile, there are speculations in Kano that the state anti-graft agency may explore its working relation with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after preliminary investigation.
…N6bn Kano Emirate Council Probe: Commission says no ulterior motive
In the meantime, the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission says the ongoing probe of alleged ‘questionable expenditures and financial misappropriation’ in the Kano Emirate Council has no political motive.
Mr Muhiyi Magaji, the Chairman of the anti-graft agency, made the clarification in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Tuesday.
“The investigation is not in any way politically motivated but was aimed at getting to the root of the allegations,” Muhiyi said.
He said the decision by the commission to investigate the complaints or allegations was borne out of effort to ensure fairness and carry out its mandate as established by the law.
“I wonder why people are questioning the reason behind the investigation and at the same time trying to pre-empt what is being investigated,” Muhiyi said.
He assured said that no amount of pressure would deter the commission from carrying out its duties, not even from the state governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje.
“I will not succumb to any pressure not even from the governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje. I will discharge my duties without fear or favour because I know I will account for my actions in the hereafter.
“Until and until the allegations of the whistle blowers are established or otherwise, people should not pre-empt the investigation,” said Muhiyi.
He called on Nigerians to continue to support the commission in the current fight against corruption in the state and the country at large in order to deepen good governance.
The Emirate Council is expected to honour the invitation of the state anti-graft agency on May 2 to explain how the alleged N6 billion was expended.
NAN recalls that whistle blowers had written the commission of an alleged N6 billion expenditure incurred by the Emir of Kano, Malam Mahammadu Sanusi II in his about three years on the throne.
Consequently, the anti-graft agency embarked on an investigation to unravel the allegations.
“The commission is wading into the matter to establish whether or not Sections 120, 121 of the Constitution and Section 26 of the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended) of Kano State, dealing with public expenditure, had been complied with,’’ said the chairman.
However, reacting to the development, the Kano Emirate Council on Monday said it spent N4,314,476,542.94 since the revered first class traditional ruler assumed the throne.
The Walin Kano and the emirate council’s Finance Councilor, Alhaji Mahe Bashir Wali, told newsmen at the Emir’s Palace that the council had from June 8, 2014 to April 11, 2017, spent N4,314,476,542.94, and not N6 billion as alleged.
According to him, N1,893,378,927.38 was the exact amount inherited by the Sanusi II.
Giving the breakdown of the expenditures done during Sanusi’s three years in office, Wali said out of the N1.8 billion he inherited, N152,627,723.00 was paid to Dabo Gate Company for the procurement of furniture for the palace.
“This is because after the demise of the late emir, all his belongings, including the furniture were removed and distributed to his heirs in accordance with Islamic injunction, therefore new furniture were purchased for emir Sanusi,” Wali said.
The senior councillor added that the sum of N108 million was paid to the family of late Emir Ado Bayero by the council in respect of the late emir’s personal cars inherited by the present emir, saying following the development, the cars now belonged to the emirate council.
He also refuted allegation of spending N15,458,660.00 as traveling expenses, saying the amount was rather spent on construction and renovation of Fadancin Dare wing of the palace.
He said N142,800,000.00 was spent on the purchase of two Bullet Proof Vehicles as approved by the State Government in a letter from the SSG’s office with reference No: SSG/S/D/A/36/TI/109, and dated Sept. 17, 2014, following an attack on the late emir by Boko Haram.
Wali also explained that N154,873,000.00 was also spent on the purchase and replacement of the vehicles that were destroyed when the emir’s convoy was attacked by Boko Haram insurgents.
However, he admitted that N37,054,192.06 was paid to the Airtel mobile service providers for the emir’s mobile phone services, noting that majority of the charges were that of roaming.
“It is also on the record that after Emir Sanusi assumed office, the council reviewed the salaries and remuneration allowances of his staff which include salaries of council members, district heads and all other employees of the council.
“As result of the review the monthly spending on salary rose from N9.910 million to N36 million,” the councillor said.
He also said the council raised “two vouchers of N6,993,203.00 and N5,560,235.00 to Western Union being cost of Air tickets for the emir’s entourage, not the emir himself who used to pay for his ticket”.
`The emirate council only spent N14.732 million on chartering domestic air flight for the emir twice since he assumed office.
“The first was in September 2014, when the sum of N4,651,000.00 was spent on the emir’s trip to Sokoto to pay homage to the Sultan of Sokoto.
“And the second was in January 2015 when N9,071,000.00 was spent on his trip to the University of Benin for his installation as the Chancellor of the university,’’ Wali stressed.
Besides, he dismissed allegations that the council had purchased two Rolls Royce cars for the emir, explaining that the two cars were donated to him by his friends.
