Kano Anti-graft Agency arrests Perm Sec, others over drugs supply scam
The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested Alhaji Mohammed Kabawa, the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and other officials over an alleged multi-billion naira drugs supply scam.
The Public Relations Officer of the commission, Mr Kabiru Kabiru, confirmed the arrests, when he spoke with newsmen on Tuesday in Kano adding that investigation was ongoing in the case.
Kabiru also confirmed the arrested of the Chairman of the state branch of the Association for Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Mr Abdullahi Bashir, the Managing Director of Novomed Pharmaceuticals and one, Mr Garba Musa Kwankwaso,a nephew of the NNPP National Leader,Sen.Rabi’u Kwankwaso.
The suspects were accused of connivance to award a contract to Novomed Pharmaceuticals for the supply of drugs to 38 local government councils of the state, thus violating public procurement laws.
Preliminary investigations revealed that each of the 38 local councils paid N9.1 million to Novomed for the procurement of drugs, but the drugs were not supplied.
The findings also revealed that all the suspects were cooperating with the commission’s investigation team.
Kabiru said that the commission was working to unravel the full extent of the scam and bring those responsible to justice.
He also confirmed that the suspects were in the commission’s custody.
