By sacking and prosecuting senior government officials over graft allegations, Kano state Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is determined to deepen anti-corruption crusade in the state, GIABA Journalists Network on Money laundering/Terrorist Financing, Nigeria, has said.
Ganduje administration has empowered the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission to fight corruption in the state civil service.
The state governor had sacked a commissioner, a permanent secretary and director- all in the state ministry of land – over breach of trust.
The state anti-corruption commission has so far investigated and arraigned former Commissioner for Land, Faruk Bibi Faruk, for alleged criminal breach of trust and illegal acts.
Also arraigned with him on a three-count charge before Justice Nasiru Saminu of Kano High Court 22, were the permanent secretary in the ministry, Mahmud Bari, and a director in the ministry, Ahmad Ibrahim.
“The sack and prosecution of senior government officials in the Ganduje administration is a good omen for anti-graft crusade in Nigeria, a statement by Nigerian coordinator of GIABA journalists network, Odan Agbese and Program Advisor Muhammad Nuruddeen, said.
The network is an inter-country network for tracking money laundering and financial terrorism of GIABA – an institution of the ECOWAS responsible for facilitating the adoption and implementation of anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism.
“Anti-graft crusade can only make meaning when state governors stop shielding their officials and aides involved in abuse of office,” the statement said.
The network said it was impressed by the Ganduje’s administration setting up of offices for the anti-corruption commission in the 44 local government areas in the state.
It however urged the Kano state government to “allow the anti-corruption commission a free hand in performing its duties without interference.
“The anti-graft war should be independent and without any political permutations. This laudable effort shouldn’t be used in witch hunting political opponents,” the GIABA advocacy network said.
Other state governments should emulate Kano by domesticating the anti-corruption drive, the statement said.
