On Tuesday, Abdullahi Bashir, the interim council chairman of Tarauni Local Government, and Ibrahim Kabara, the permanent secretary of the Kano Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, were detained by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC).
The two officials, along with five others, are under investigation for alleged corruption related to the procurement of medications and medical supplies for the 44 local governments in Kano State.
The PCACC has also summoned Musa Garba, Managing Director of Novomed Pharmaceuticals and a nephew of former Kano State Governor Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to provide testimony as part of the ongoing probe. The commission alleges that the detained officials may have breached the Financial Management Law, Public Procurement Law, and other relevant regulations.
The accusations focus on irregularities in the contract awarding process for drugs and medical equipment, reportedly conducted without proper legal procedures and without the necessary approval from Kano State Governor, Engineer Abba Kabir Yusuf.
As of 11:15 AM on Tuesday, the detained officials remained in custody at the commission’s office, where they are undergoing extensive questioning. The PCACC has pledged a thorough investigation into the corruption claims and is committed to resolving the matter.
