CSOs condemn IGP’s withdrawal of police support from Kano anti-graft agency
The embattled National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, is set for another trouble, as the Judicial Commission of Inquiry (JCI) on public property and assets recovery begins sitting today.
Earlier this month, Governor Abba Yusuf inaugurated two judicial commissions of inquiry into misappropriation of public assets, political violence, and missing persons between 2015 and 2023.
During the inauguration, Yusuf pledged to hold accountable anyone found culpable, emphasising his commitment to uncovering and prosecuting those responsible for political violence in the state before and during previous elections.
The governor urged the commission to thoroughly investigate cases of misappropriated public properties and assets during the tenure of the immediate past administration. He instructed the members to uphold their integrity, remain true to their oath and serve Kano by ensuring that justice is served.
According to a statement by the commission’s secretary, Salisu Mustapha, to the Director General of Media and Publicity, and sighted by The Guardian, the commission will commence its inaugural sitting at High Court No. 3 within the Audu Bako Secretariat on Monday Aprilv29, 2024 by 10am.
However, Yusuf clarified that the move to investigate Ganduje’s administration was not politically motivated but a response to the mandate of the Kano people.
However, the opposition APC in the state has accused the ruling New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) government in Kano of political vendetta.
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the anti-corruption community have condemned the recent withdrawal by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, of police personnel from the commission.
The CSOs are Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED).
The withdrawal, which reportedly followed investigations into corruption allegations against Ganduje, raised serious concerns about the politicisation of law enforcement agencies.
The organisations argued that the withdrawal of approximately 40 policemen providing security and investigative support severely undermines the crucial work of the anti-corruption agency in Kano “and threatens the constitutional requirements” of the police’s impartiality and independence.
In a joint statement, leaders of the groups, Olanrewaju Suraju, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani and Zikirullahi Ibrahim, decried that law enforcement resources were being redirected away from combating corruption and instead appeared to be used to obstruct investigations into high-profile individuals and undermine accountability. They noted that the action threatened the principles of federalism, transparency, accountability and the rule of law.
They urged Egbetokun to refrain from any action that could be perceived as political, emphasising that the fight against corruption should be free from political interference.
