Anti-Corruption: Why Ganduje’s appointees, politicians are after me, by Muhuyi

The chairman, Kano state Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (KPCACC), Muhuyi Magaji Rimi-Gado has revealed how the dogged fight against corruption and other civil matters has inflicted hard hatred on him from political appointees in Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s administration.

The anti-graft boss, who disclosed this while speaking with journalists at the weekend, explained that the growing hatred was as a result of his principle to remain apolitical and unsympathetic to any trace of financial misconduct no matter whose ox is gored.

Muhuyi revealed that the commission has, in the last five years, unveiled several illicit deals of financial misappropriation and other civil atrocities involving people in highly place and dispensed with in line with the statutory laws establishing the commission, adding that he was not unaware but less concern with the perceived hostility in some quarters.

The anti-graft agency boss, who had raised concern of judicial interception that mostly obstructed the commission’s investigations especially on criminal matters, however posited that the outgoing year comes with unprecedented challenges, busiest and record of achievement despite the hindrance of COVID-19 pandemic.

Citing an ongoing investigation into alleged misappropriation of over N150 million in Kano Metropolitan Agency and other atrocities in public circles, Muhuyi in a rhetorical escalation wondered why he would not be casted a subject of hatred in the hands of people that are regarded mostly untouchable.

“Why those in government don’t like me, the commission is not only operating criminal but also civil cases. We covered both jurisdictions and we have made sure we use both stick and carrot method to address our case. That is why those that brought their matters ended with a win win game,” Muhuyi said.

“f you talk of financial crimes I can assure you those in government and establishment don’t like me, that is for sure but you can’t take it from the downtrodden people whose rights have been trampled upon will definitely accept us. We make sure we use the instrumentality of the law to redeem their rights in the society. I am sure you are aware this category of people is happy with us.

“Now, like many of you are aware that Kano is dark in the night as if there is no street light in the state. But when we investigated the situation, we found out that the government had released several millions of naira to power the street light fueling and maintenance of the generators. But unfortunately the funds were not deployed and everywhere is now dark. As a commission we say no to this and we are currently investigating the matter. Now, please how do you want these set of people to like me obviously they will not.

“While investigating the matter, we have issued a three weeks order to the concerned authority to restore power to the streets of Kano, failure to do that will lead to another criminal offense. That is the stick and carrot I am talking about. You say you have purchased this and that install them and let there be light that is our concern or the other side of the law takes it cause.”

The state own anti-graft agency recently launched an Anti-Corruption Strategy to institutionalize an anti-corruption framework across all stakeholders with comprehensive blueprints that incorporate evaluate, monitor and surveillance beyond the micro level. The strategy also provides establishment of anti-corruption and transparency watch dog across public institutions in the state with clear mandate of reporting corrupt cases

Besides its statutory mandate of arrest, investigation, seizure and prosecution of criminal and civil matters, the Commission also established the Anti-corruption Institute to provide capacity building mechanisms and specialize intelligence and ICT training for staff of the commission.