The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has recently made several significant arrests in connection with a major drug supply fraud.
The operation involves high-profile figures, including Garba Musa Kwankwaso, a nephew of Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate for the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
Alongside him, officials such as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, and the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) for the Kano State chapter, have also been detained.
The arrest of these individuals follows an earlier crackdown on Alhaji Mohammed Kabawa, who serves as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. Kabawa, along with others, is accused of being involved in a multi-billion Naira scam related to the supply of drugs to local government areas across the state.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Abdullahi Bashir, the Chairman of the Kano State branch of ALGON. Bashir, who is also the head of Tauroni Local Government Area (LGA), is implicated in the alleged scheme. These officials are accused of conspiring to award a fraudulent contract to Novomed Pharmaceuticals for the supply of essential drugs to 38 local government areas within the state.
According to the allegations, each local government area paid N9.1 million to Novomed Pharmaceuticals for the procurement of drugs. However, it has been reported that the drugs were never delivered, leading to significant public and financial concerns. This breach of public procurement laws has sparked outrage and led to the current investigation.
In addition to the above arrests, Musa Garba Kwankwaso, the Managing Director of Novomed Pharmaceuticals and also a nephew of Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, has been taken into custody. His role in the fraud has intensified scrutiny of the operations of Novomed and the handling of public funds allocated for essential health supplies.
The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission is actively working to uncover the full extent of the fraud. The commission’s Public Relations Officer, Kabiru I. Kabiru, confirmed the arrests and emphasized that the investigation is ongoing.
Kabiru assured the public that the commission is committed to revealing the full scale of the scam and ensuring that all those involved are held accountable.
As the investigation progresses, the commission is focused on gathering all necessary evidence to prosecute those responsible for this major fraud.
The suspects, currently in custody, are reportedly cooperating with the commission’s team. The commission’s efforts aim to restore public trust and ensure that such breaches of trust and legality are addressed thoroughly and transparently.
The outcome of this investigation will be closely watched, as it involves prominent figures and addresses critical issues related to public procurement and corruption.
