Drugs Scandal: ICPC Summons Kano Speaker And Five Others For Questioning

Drugs Scandal: ICPC Summons Kano Speaker And Five Others For Questioning

Kano State House of Assembly Speaker, Jibril Falgore, his deputy, Muhammad Bello Butu-Butu, and three others were on Friday summoned by ICPC in connection with the ongoing investigation into the N440 million drug contract scandal across the 44 Local Government Areas of the state.

Among the principal members summoned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission include the Majority Leader, Hussaini Lawan Dala, Minority Leader Labaran Madari, Clerk of the House, Bashir Diso, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

According to the ICPC, the Permanent Secretary is scheduled to appear before the commission on September 18, while the Speaker, alongside others, is to be interrogated on September 19.

In the invitation letter, the ICPC stated, “The Commission is investigating alleged violations of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, No. 5 2000. Pursuant to Section 28 of the said Act, you are to appear for an interview before the undersigned at the ICPC headquarters, Abuja. You are expected to come with a lawyer, Justice of the Peace, a staff member of the Legal Aid Council, or any individual of your choice.”

The investigation is the sequel to the July 18 attempt by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission to probe the N440m drug contract awarded to NOVOMED Pharmaceuticals for supplying drugs to the local government areas.

“Allegations have been raised that the contract violated the state’s Procurement Law and Financial Management Law.”

However, on August 27, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), the Ministry of Local Government Affairs, and the 44 council Chairmen secured a court order restraining the state’s anti-graft commission from further probing the matter.

They argued that the actions of the Commission violated their fundamental human rights, citing Sections of the 1999 Constitution.

Also, ALGON and the councils sought an order from a Kano State High Court, presided over by Justice Ibrahim Musa Muhammad, to prevent other agencies, including the ICPC, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and the Nigeria Police, from investigating the case.

It should be recalled that the ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu (SAN), who appealed before the court, argued that the local government Chairmen lacked the legal right to bring the case forward, as the Supreme Court had already declared all Caretaker committees in local governments illegal.

Furthermore, Aliyu challenged the Kano State House of Assembly’s resolution to extend the tenure of the Caretaker committees, emphasizing that such committees were not recognized under the 1999 Constitution.

He requested the court to lift the restraining order sought by ALGON and the 44 chairmen.

As of last night, the ICPC had announced its intention to proceed with the investigation. A source within the commission revealed, “We received an intelligence report from a whistleblower regarding the drug scandal, and we have decided to investigate all the allegations. There are several other issues we are looking into.”

The source added, “We have invited the Speaker and others to assist in our investigation, as their clarification is necessary to ensure the probe continues unhindered.”