- Safiu Kehinde
Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested five persons, including, notable government officials in connection to alleged multi-billion Naira drug supply scam
Among the arrested persons was Alhaji Mohammed Kabawa, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Also arrested by the commission was the chairman of the state branch of Association for Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Alhaji Abdullahi Bashir, who is also the Chairman Tauroni Local Government Area (LGA).
In the same vein, the anti-graft agency arrested the Managing Director of Novomed Pharmaceuticals, Garba Kwankwaso, the nephew of the NNPP National Leader, Sen. Rabi’u Kwankwaso, in connection with the alleged scam.
Confirming the arrests, the Public Relations Officer of the commission, Kabiru Kabiru, revealed that the investigation was ongoing with the suspect still in custody.
Kabiru said the commission was working to unravel the full extent of the alleged scam and bring those responsible to justice.
The suspects were arrested following Investigation of a contract awarded to Novomed for the supply of drugs to 38 LGAs government areas in the state.
The investigations revealed that each of the 38 LGAs paid N9.150 million to Novomed for the procurement of drugs but the drugs were not supplied thus violating public procurement laws.
According to report, an inner source disclosed how the money collected from the 38 local governments was siphoned.
“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”, the source reportedly disclosed.