A former Commissioner of Works and Infrastructure in Kano, Idris Wada Saleh, has been arrested by State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission over alleged one billion naira fraud.
Saleh served in the immediate past administration of former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
The state antigraft agency said Saleh allegedly diverted N1 billion meant for the reconstruction of 30 roads.
The commission’s Chairman, Muhiyi Magaji Rimin Gado, confirmed the arrest to newsmen.
He said the former Works commissioner who doubled as the managing director of Kano Road Maintenance Agency (KARMA) was arrested alongside the Permanent Secretary of Public Procurement Bureau, Mustapha Madaki Huguma.
Also arrested were the directors of Finance and Research and Planning.
“We are here in relation to an outright theft of N1 billion belonging to Kano state government through bogus companies.
“I can’t tell you the names of the companies off hand right now and for investigation sake.
“The money was removed a month before handover and it was removed under the pretext that it would be used for construction or rehabilitation of about thirty roads across Kano state.
“That is why we made some arrests including the commissioner of works who doubles as the Managing Director Kano Road Maintenance Agency (KARMA). I want you to take note of this.
“When we invited some of the directors, because we have the bank details that indicated fraudulent activities, this ignited the commission to look into it.
“We invited the director personnel, planning and statistics as well as the director of finance and they confessed to the commission that they were only under instructions to remove the money.
“There was no work done, nothing was done. So that prompted us to arrest the person that directed them. He is now with us and we are taking him to court,” he stated.
“The arrested permanent secretary and director confirmed to the commission that they were instructed to sign the necessary documents that passed through their desks, which according to them, was done to protect their jobs.”