The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Kano State chapter, has instituted a contempt charge against the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) over the alleged diversion of N400 million council funds for the purported drug supply. 
   
This was as the Commission of Inquiry into breaches of peace, destruction of public property and arson during the hardship protest in the state last month sought the cooperation of the police in its assigned task.
   
ALGON, along with the state Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, accused the two agencies of violating orders of the court restraining further investigation in the matter pending hearing and determination of the motion on notice. 
   
PCACC had arrested individuals, including ALGON Chairman, Abdullahi Bashir; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Ibrahim Kabara; and Musa Garba Kwankwaso, a nephew to Rabiu Kwankwaso, for alleged involvement in the fraud. 
   
When the matter came up for hearing, yesterday, counsel to the applicants, Shamsu Jibrin, told the vacation judge that the applicant was not prepared to continue with the motion on notice for gross violation of court. 
 
Jibril, who accused ICPC and PCACC of inviting one of his clients, Abdullahi Dederi, who doubles as the Caretaker Chairman of Karaye Local Council, violated an earlier order of the court. 
   
In a counter-reaction, counsel to ICPC, Musa Aliyu (SAN), told the court that the commission had only invited one Abdullahi Dederi, who is not party to the matter in suit. Aliyu, who doubles as Chairman of ICPC, declared that Dederi was not recognised by the judgment of the Supreme Court, which only validated a duly elected person as local council chairman.

The ICPC boss, therefore, urged the court to ignore the applications. The vacation judge, Justice Ibrahim Karaye, said the case would be transmitted to the Chief Judge of Kano, 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 the drug on contract, which was awarded exclusively to one Novomed Pharmaceuticals. According to Galadanchi, 25 local councils have already made payments to the company’s account.
   
Also yesterday, led by the Chairman, Justice Lawan Mahmoud (rtd), members of the commission of inquiry interacted with the police in the state. In his remarks, the chairman appreciated the police for their vital role in restoring peace, order and security during the protest in the state. Responding, the Commissioner of Police, Salman Garba, expressed optimism that commission members would execute the tasks before them.