The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested five people, including Alhaji Mohammed Kabara, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, in connection with an alleged multibillion-naira drug supply scam.
The commission has also detained Alhaji Abdullahi Bashir, leader of the state section of the Association for Local Governments of Nigeria and leader of the Tauroni Local Government Area.
The Kano State commission’s Public Relations Officer, Kabiru Kabiru, confirmed the arrests to journalists on Wednesday.
Similarly, the Kano State anti-graft agency detained Garba Kwankwaso, the Managing Director of Novomed Pharmaceuticals and nephew of NNPP National Leader Rabiu Kwankwaso, in connection with the alleged scheme.
The individuals were accused of conspiring to grant a contract to Novomed for the delivery of medications to 38 local government areas in the state, in violation of public procurement laws.
Preliminary investigations found that each of the 38 LGAs paid Novomed N9.150 million to buy medications, but the drugs were not delivered.
“We have 44 LGAs in the state, and they succeeded in collecting N9.150 from 38 councils for supply of the drugs that were not supplied.
“The findings also revealed that all the suspects are cooperating with the commission’s investigation team,” Kabiru stated.
Kabiru stated that the committee was trying to determine the entire magnitude of the alleged swindle and bring those involved to justice.
He also verified that the suspects remained in the commission’s custody while the inquiry was ongoing.
