Kano Anti-graft Agency Boss Granted Bail
The Code of Conduct sitting in Abuja has granted bail to the Chairman of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado.
Mr Magaji was arraigned before the Tribunal over a conflict of interest, failure to submit a written declaration of all assets and liabilities, false declaration of assets and Abuse of Office.
In a letter to the Chairman of the Tribunal by the Code of Conduct Bureau said, that Magaji would be arraigned before the Tribunal on a 10-count charge.
Part of the Counts alleged that “Magaji whilst being the Executive Chairman of Public Complaints and anti-corruption Commission of Kano state and thereby a public officer on or about 19th day of March 2021 you put yourself in a position where your interest conflicted with the discharge of your duties and responsibilities in that you applied and got approval for the payment of the sum of one million seven hundred and sixty six naira (NI,766,666.06) only as professional Audit fees per annum for the services of Messrs Salihu Metala & Co contrary to Six hundred thousand naira (N600,000) only per Annum submitted to you by Messrs Salihu Maitala & Co and you thereby contravene the provision of Section 5 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act CAP C15 LEN 2004 and Punishable under Section 23 (l) and (2) of the same Act 9”.
Magaji also received in his Zenith Bank Account a benefit in the sum of 4.7 million in July 2023 from Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, the Secretary to Kano State Government. That contravenes the provision of Section 10 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Tribunal Act.
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However, Magaji appeared before the court on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Magaji through his lawyer Yau Adamu Abdullahi applied for bail and was granted on the following conditions:
5 million naira with two responsible sureties to show evidence of gainful employment to the tribunal’s satisfaction.
Sureties to reside within FCT and must depose to the affidavit of means.
Sureties to deposit with the tribunal two recent passport photographs of themselves and the applicant
The applicant is to obtain a letter of identification from a very prominent citizen of the FCT, working or doing business with the territorial Jurisdiction of the Tribunal to be verified by the Chief Registrar approved by Hon. Justice Julie Anabor
It would be recalled that Magaji was the Chairman of the Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission in Kano which led the investigation into the misappropriation of funds at Kano Emirate Palace under Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II.
He has investigated and prosecuted civil and public servants over corruption allegations in Kano.
In April 2022, Magaji was arraigned before Kano State Magistrates Court for alleged forgery and false information charges against him.
The embattled ex-anti-graft boss then was granted administrative bail after honouring a police invitation on the same charges.
The State House of Assembly in 2021 asked the anti-corruption boss to step aside for a month after he kicked against the posting of an accountant to the agency from the Office of the Accountant-General of the state.
He was later suspended by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje over his failure to accept the posting of an Accountant to the commission.
