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N4bn Fraud Suspect behind My Arrest, Using Police to Intimidate Me –Kano Anti-Corruption Chief Magaji

Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, the Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), has said that one of the suspects under investigation by his commission for the N4 billion fraud is behind his recent arrest.

The Anti-Corruption Commission boss said this when he appeared as a guest on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme on Monday.

It was earlier reported how Muhuyi Magaji was arrested by the Nigerian police from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) office.

Speaking on Monday during a live broadcast on Channels TV, Magaji said his arrest was not a surprise. He noted that “corruption is fighting back”. “When you fight corruption, corruption will fight back. Anti-corruption fight (is) fair but corruption fight is dirty,” he said.

Magaji said three different federal agencies have been activated against him, saying “there are lots of activities going around targeted against my person”.

On why he was arrested last week, the Kano anti-graft agency chair said it was about an alleged fraud involving a former Managing Director of Kano Agricultural Supply Company Limited (KASCO).

He said, “There was an investigation that we carried out and we realised that about N4bn of funds of Kano State Government has been siphoned through different entities by a public officer.

“We investigated that public officer and we seized the properties in accordance with the laid-down procedures and the provisions of the law. Section 40 of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission provides adequate provisions and we did and we charged the matter to court.

“After the arraignment and the detainment of the accused, he came up with a series of tactics to snatch away the exhibit of the crime and that is not allowed in law.

“So, we employed moves that entailed roving the property from where it is to a different safe place so that it would not be tampered with till the court decides on the matter. I think that is what ignited them.

“When they cannot wait for the court processes and they know they cannot succeed in that case, they now activate the police to arrest me.”

It was gathered that Muhuyi Magaji was detained at Zone One police headquarters in Kano.

A source privy to the situation also confirmed that the IGP ordered that Magaji should be transferred immediately to Abuja at the Force Headquarters.

He was however later released that night. Sources at the Kano Anti-corruption Commission also disclosed that operatives of the IGP monitoring unit that arrested Magaji were led by one ASP Ahmed Bello.

The sources said the bone of contention has to do with the trial of the former Managing Director, Kano Agricultural Supply Company Lim- ited, (KASCO) Bala Muhammed Inuwa, who is standing trial over the alleged diversion of public funds to the tune of over N4 billion.

The trial that commenced in November 2023 at the Kano High Court is presided over by Justice Hafsat Yahaya, who ordered the seizure of property linked to the matter including money in banks pending the determination of the suit.

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