Kano Govt Reacts As Kwankwasiyya Defends Deputy Gov Over N1.1bn Allegation

The Kwankwasiyya political movement in Kano State has defended the deputy governor, Aminu Abdussalam, over allegations of misappropriating N1.1 billion, insisting that documents in its possession show the funds were released with the approval of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

Reacting, however, Governor Abba Yusuf’s spokesman, Sanusi Bature, told LEADERSHIP that the issue before the Assembly centred on the alleged misappropriation of the governor’s approval, stressing that the funds were allegedly diverted from the purpose for which they were approved.

He, however, declined further comment, saying the matter was already before the Assembly.

Recall that the House has given the deputy governor two weeks to respond to the allegations, after which it may constitute an investigative panel in line with constitutional provisions guiding impeachment proceedings.

The defence mounted by the Kwankwasiyya movement followed the Assembly’s decision to impeach the deputy governor for alleged gross misconduct, abuse of office, and breach of public trust.

The impeachment notice was read during plenary presided over by the speaker, Ismail Falgore, after it was presented by the majority leader, Lawan Husseini Dala, in line with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution which empowers a state legislature to commence impeachment proceedings against a deputy governor.

A total of 38 out of the 40 lawmakers reportedly appended their signatures to the notice served on the deputy governor.

In the notice, the Assembly accused Gwarzo of financial impropriety during his tenure as Commissioner for Local Government between 2023 and 2024.

Lawmakers alleged that he received kickbacks of N1.5 million monthly from each of the 44 local government councils between June 2023 and January 2024, amounting to N66 million monthly and N462 million within the seven-month period.

They further alleged that between February and July 2024, he received additional cash returns of N3.255 million monthly from each council under the guise of executing special assignments, bringing the total amount allegedly received during the period to about N726 million.

The Assembly also accused him of facilitating the release of N10 million from each of the 44 local government councils, totalling N440 million, to NovoMed Pharmaceuticals Limited in alleged contravention of the Kano State Public Procurement Law and fiscal management regulations.

However, the Kwankwasiyya movement dismissed the allegations relating to the N1.1 billion said to have been misappropriated for water and drug supplies across the 44 local government councils.

Documents dated between April and June 2024 and sighted by LEADERSHIP indicated that the allocation was formally approved by Governor Yusuf following a request by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Kano State chapter, to address acute water shortages and provide essential drugs for residents across the councils.

According to one of the memos, the 44 Local Government Interim Management Committee chairmen proposed that N25 million be allocated to each council from the State/Local Government Joint Account, bringing the total to N1.1 billion.

A memo dated May 20, 2024 from the Office of the Deputy Governor subsequently sought the governor’s approval for the release of the funds, noting that the intervention would address potable water shortages and improve access to essential medicines.

The approval was later conveyed on June 10, 2024 in a letter signed by Abubakar S. Dabo, Director of Local Government Inspection, on behalf of the commissioner.

Kwankwasiyya leaders argued that the documents clearly showed the deputy governor acted within his official mandate and with the governor’s consent, describing the allegations as politically motivated.