How politicians, civil servants diverted N18bn public funds in Kano – Agency

Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has uncovered N18 billion stolen from politicians in connivance with civil servants.

The anti-grant revealed that 90 percent of corrupt cases under investigation were perpetrated by civil servants through procurement processes.

Chairman of the anti-grant agency, Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, raised the concern Saturday at the opening of Anti-Corruption workshop organized for state senior civil servants.

Rimingado who hinted that civil servants are caught in the middle of corrupt practices worried that politicians have succeeded in using public servants as ingredients to siphoning commonwealth.

He cautioned the public servants to be mindful of the consequences of their actions, and insisted the agency is determined to impose zero tolerance to corrupt practices across the board.

“The civil servants are being used by politicians against the law. All the ground corrupt practices the agency is investigating in Kano civil servants are the ingredients and tools in the hands of those elements who perpetrate the practice at the high level,” he said.

“Again, 90 percent of corruption cases are perpetrated through procurement services. When politicians want to steal they use procurement has cover up.
return. We also have a case where the politicians used local government cashiers personal accounts to siphon public funds. The cashiers volunteered to withdraw the monies, take to bureau De change and make returns.

“So we are here to sensitize them on Anti-Corruption law, public procurement and financial management laws. How to deal with public finances of Kano state and Anti-Corruption laws and other relevant laws that will guide them on their mandates.”

Kano State Head of Service, Abdullahi Musa, hinted at government’s plans to review financial regulations law to guide public financial management in line with the economic reality.

Musa who buttressed the point of the anti-grant boss that corruption is gradually eroding the credibility of civil service in the state however reiterated the present administration’s determination to entrench prudence in financial management.

Similarly, state coordinator of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), Ibrahim Garba Kagara cited cases of contract inflation, substandard service and under supply, no value for money and no project execution of project as major ingredients of corruption in Kano.