The Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Professor Sani Lawan Malumfashi, has been accused of money laundering, alongside two senior officials of the commission, over an alleged illegal transaction involving N1 billion.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which filed the charges, alleged that Professor Malumfashi, Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Anas Muhammed Mustapha, and Deputy Director of Accounts, Mr. Ado Garba, conspired to conduct large-scale cash transactions in breach of financial regulations and anti-corruption laws.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare, the illicit transactions occurred between November and December 2024. The trio allegedly transferred N1,020,000,000.00 (One Billion and Twenty Million Naira) from KANSIEC’s Unity Bank account to SLM Agro Global Farm—an entity that had no contractual relationship with the Commission.

The case is scheduled to come up before the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday.

The ICPC said the accused claimed the funds were transferred to raise cash to pay ad hoc staff who participated in the local government elections. They further claimed that SLM Agro Global returned the funds to KANSIEC in cash.

However, ICPC investigations reportedly contradicted their claims.

“The defendants’ explanation was found to be a mere cover-up,” the statement read. “In a letter to the Manager of Unity Bank, Zoo Road, Kano, the defendants requested the transfer of N59,400,000.00 (Fifty-Nine Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira) supported with a cheque and a list of 468 Electoral Officers and 42 Assistant Electoral Officers, including their bank details for payment through the banking system.”

ICPC noted that the payment was processed and the beneficiaries were duly credited by the bank. “Their claim that bank transfers would have been too slow for ad hoc staff payments was deemed false and a smokescreen to conceal corrupt practices,” the Commission stated.

Further investigations revealed inconsistencies in the electoral budget submitted by KANSIEC to the ICPC. Although the budget allocated N20 million for a screening and verification team to travel across all 484 wards and 44 local government areas in Kano State, ICPC said the entire exercise was conducted at the Commission’s headquarters in Kano, with candidates covering their own transport costs.

Despite this, the third defendant reportedly stated in his testimony that the full N20 million was disbursed in cash to KANSIEC members for the exercise.