By Mustapha Usman, Kano
Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission, Muhuyi Rimingado has said the anti-graft body’s ongoing investigation into an alleged gross scam in the state’s overseas scholarship programme would soon be made public.
The immediate past governor of the state, Rabiu Kwankwaso sponsored about 2,000 indigenous students to study abroad in 2013, but some sharp practices were allegedly uncovered under the programme.
The commission recently uncovered an alleged fraud to the tune of $650,000 as kick back given to the state’s former Commissioner of Health, Abubakar Yusuf and former permanent secretary, Umar Ibrahim by one Thamer A. Kazamel, the Executive Officer of one Deltamed Group in Mansoura, Egypt.
It could be recalled that the commission had few months ago seized a hospital, New Age Hospital, belonging to the former health commissioner in connection with the alleged fraud.
Consequently, Mr Rimingado said while addressing journalists that Kazamel was a consultant who served as an agent that facilitated the admission of Kano students at El-Mansoura University in Egypt.
He said since the alleged scam was uncovered, some people who were directly or indirectly benefiting from the funds were making frantic efforts to ensure status quo is maintained in order to cover their atrocities.
He debunked the rumour circulating on the social media page of one of the suspects who was reportedly exonerated by the commission, saying that none of the suspects was exonerated and investigation had reached 90% stage of completion.
“The attention of the commission has been drawn on the negative comments headed by some people believed to be sympathizers of the former Commissioner, claiming that he has been exonerated; and that his hospital, seized by the commission in line with section 40 the state’s Public Complaint and Anti-corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended) was declared illegally.
“The commission in the course of its investigation and by virtue of the powers conferred on it invited the people involved and treated them with utmost respect but to our surprise, one of them in person of Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf approached both federal and state High Court in desperate effort to stop the ongoing investigation. The two matters are concurrently going on in the two separate courts,” he said.
Mr.Rimingado also described the scholarship process as scam, lamenting that the fraudulent activities associated with the programme had jeopardized it.
He recommended that the state government should suspend the payment of all money to the consultant pending investigation, adding that the commission has liaised with the Interpol in carrying out the investigation and assigned law enforcement operatives to extend the investigation to Egypt.
He also warned civil servants in the state to stay clear from any form of corruption, stressing however that the commission would not let anybody found wanting go unpunished.
