The palace of Nigeria’s Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, has denied allegations that the influential Muslim leader has embezzled government money allocated to the palace since his ascent to the throne in 2015.
The anti-corruption agency in northern Kano state said earlier that it was investigating corruption allegations against Emir Sanusi.
Palace financial secretary Mahe Bashir Wali denied at a press conference that the emir had bought executive cars, including a Rolls Royce, with government money.
The vehicles had been given to Emir Sanusi by friends as a gift, he said.
Mr Wali also denied that the emir used government funds to fly in privately-charted planes, saying he did this with his own money.
The palace would co-operate with the investigation, and would present to the anti-corruption agency evidence of all expenses since Emir Sanusi’s appointment.
The emir also denied embezzling money the palace inherited from his predecessor, Al-Haji Ado Bayero, Mr Wali said.
The former emir died in 2015 at the age of 83.
In February, Emir Sanusi urged that a new law be introduced which would stop men from involving in forced marriages and domestic violence.
“Those of us in the [mainly Muslim] north have all seen the economic consequences of men who are not capable of maintaining one wife, marrying four.
“They end up producing 20 children, not educating them, leaving them on the streets, and they end up as thugs and terrorists,” he said.
