Alhaji Garba Musa Kwankwaso, the nephew of Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate for the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 election, has been arrested by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission for alleged fraud.
Additionally, the anti-graft agency has also arrested the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Kano State chapter.
The individuals are alleged to have been involved in a drug supply fraud affecting the 44 local government areas.
The agency had previously arrested Alhaji Mohammed Kabawa, the Permanent Secretary of the State’s Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, over an alleged multi-billion Naira drug supply scam.
Also arrested by the commission is Abdullahi Bashir, the Chairman of the state branch of ALGON and the Chairman of Tauroni LGA.
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The suspects are accused of conspiring to award a contract to Novomed Pharmaceuticals for the supply of drugs to 38 local government areas in the state, violating public procurement laws.
The scandal came to light when Bello Galadanchi, a United States-born Nigerian filmmaker and content creator, alleged that the state government directed each of the 44 local government councils to pay approximately N10 million for drug supplies, with the contract awarded exclusively to Novomed Pharmaceuticals.
According to Galadanchi, 25 local governments—including Tofa, Bebeji, Dambatta, Dawakin Tofa, Doguwa, Kumbotso, Tudun Wada, Gezawa, Ungogo, Warawa, Ajingi, Kabo, Kura, Madobi, Bichi, Gwarzo, Rogo, Garun Mallam, Takai, Shanono, Kiru, Makoda, Nasarawa, and Gabasawa—have already made payments for August to the company’s account.
Preliminary investigations by the Commission revealed that each of the 38 local governments paid N9.1 million to Novomed for drug procurement, but the drugs were not supplied.
All the suspects are reported to be cooperating with the commission’s investigation team.
The Public Relations Officer of the commission, Kabiru I. Kabiru, confirmed the arrests, stating that the investigation is ongoing. He mentioned that the commission is working to uncover the full extent of the scam and bring those responsible to justice.
Kabiru also confirmed that the suspects were in the commission’s custody at the time of filing this report.
The Chairman of the PCACC, Muhuyi Magaji, said, “We’ve already issued invitations to about five or six individuals, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Local Governments, the Director of Planning, and the Director of Local Government Inspection.”
