The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Kano State has instituted a contempt of court charge against the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the state’s Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) over the alleged diversion of N400 million council funds for a purported drug supply.
ALGON, along with the state Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, accused the two agencies of violating court orders previously obtained by the applicants, which restrained further investigation into the matter pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The PCACC had arrested individuals, including ALGON Chairman Abdullahi Bashir, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Alhaji Ibrahim Kabara, and Musa Garba Kwankwaso, a nephew of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, for their alleged involvement in the fraud.
When the matter came up for hearing on Thursday, counsel to the applicants, Shamsu Ubale Jibrin, told the vacation judge that the applicant was not prepared to continue with the motion on notice due to the gross violation of the court order.
Barr. Jibril, who accused the ICPC and PCACC of inviting one of his clients, Abdullahi Aliyu Dederi, who also serves as the caretaker of Karaye Local Government Area (LGA), stated that this action violated the earlier order of the court.
Counsel to the applicants, who moved an application for Form 48 against the ICPC and PCACC, also sought the court to stop the ICPC from proceeding with any actions affecting fundamental rights until the court order was obeyed.
“Recall that the court, on 27th of August, 2024, granted an interim injunction order restraining all the respondents from investigating, arresting, inviting, or tampering with the subject matter pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application.
“Eventually, the ICPC and PCACC went ahead to invite the caretaker chairman of Karaye. This is not lawful, an abuse of court process; it is unconstitutional and a breach of the fundamental rights of the applicants.”
In a counter-reaction, counsel to the ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu SAN, told the court that the Commission had only invited one Abdullahi Aliyu Dederi, who is not a party to the matter in suit.
Aliyu, who also serves as Chairman of the Commission, declared that Dederi was not recognized by the judgement of the Supreme Court, which only validated a duly elected person as the local government chairman. The ICPC boss, therefore, urged the court to discountenance the applicants’ applications.
The vacation judge, Justice Ibrahim Musa Karaye, stated that the case would be transmitted to the Chief Judge of Kano State, who would reassign the matter to a substantive judge.
The scandal came to light when Bello Galadanchi, a United States-born Nigerian filmmaker and content creator, alleged that the state government directed each of the 44 local councils to remit N10 million each for the purported supply of drugs on a contract awarded exclusively to one Novomed Pharmaceuticals.
According to Galadanchi, 25 local governments, including Tofa, Bebeji, Dambatta, Dawakin Tofa, Doguwa, Kumbotso, Tudun Wada, Gezawa, Ungogo, Warawa, Ajingi, Kabo, Kura, Madobi, Bichi, Gwarzo, Rogo, Garun Mallam, Takai, Shanono, Kiru, Makoda, Nasarawa, and Gabasawa, have already made payments for August to the company’s account.
It was gathered that Kwankwaso, a family relation to the spiritual leaders of the Kwankwasiyya movement, was allegedly involved in a procurement scandal through a private pharmaceutical company, “Novomed Pharmaceuticals.”
Although the alleged contract is not joined in the matter, Novomed Pharmaceuticals was projected to receive about N9 million from each council, amounting to N396 million in total every month from the 44 local councils.
Meanwhile, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has denied knowledge of the alleged scandal and directed the state anti-corruption agency to investigate the allegation.
