The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested several high-profile individuals, including Garba Musa Kwankwaso, a nephew to the New Nigeria People’s Party presidential candidate, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, over their alleged involvement in a multi-billion naira drug supply fraud to the 44 Local Government Areas.
The commission earlier picked up the Permanent Secretary of the State’s Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Kabawa, over the alleged scam.
Further investigation led to the arrest of other individuals involved in the deal, including the Chairman of the state branch of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Abdullahi Bashir, who is also the chairman of Tauroni Local Government Area.
Also arrested is Musa Garba Kwankwaso, the Managing Director of Novomed Pharmaceuticals and nephew to Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso.
According to the commission, the suspects were accused of conniving to award a contract to Novomed Pharmaceuticals for the supply of drugs to 38 Local Government Areas in the state, violating public procurement laws. Preliminary investigations revealed that each of the 38 local governments paid N9.1 million to Novomed for the procurement of drugs, but the drugs were not supplied.
The Public Relations Officer of the commission, Kabiru I. Kabiru, confirmed the arrests, stating: “The commission is working to unravel the full extent of the scam and bring those responsible to justice.”
Kabiru added: “The suspects are in the commission’s custody as of the time of filing this report.”
All the suspects are cooperating with the commission’s investigation team.
The commission’s investigation is ongoing to determine the full extent of the scam and bring those responsible to justice.
