Tag: Emir

Reports that the financial affairs of the Kano Emirate are being probed, have raised fears that powerful forces opposed to the outspoken Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi II, are set to move against him. Kolade Adeyemi in Kano reports on the gathering storm.

WHEN on June 8, 2014, the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi II ascended the throne of the Kano Emirate, it was a dream come true for him. Before then, the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), who gained popularity for his critical comments against the government of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan which employed him, had always nursed the ambition of becoming the Emir of Kano. This dream he kept closer to his mind, shunning advises from his friends within and outside the country to put an eye on the presidency.
In fact, on several occasions, Emir Muhammad Sanusi II, in a show of desperation, had stated that he would not mind becoming the Emir of Kano for just one-day. When the late Emir, Alhaji Ado Abdullahi Bayero died, there was a keen contest between him and three other persons, including the first son of the late Emir. However, because he enjoyed the sympathy of the immediate past governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Emir Sanusi, amidst controversy and power play that resulted in heavy tension, was later crowned, against the wishes of the presidency under the control of former President Jonathan.
Friends become foes
It has remained a surprise to many analysts today how Kwankwaso and Sanusi mended walls since he was a chronic hater of Kwankwaso’s political ideology and policies which Sanusi consistently attacked when Kwankwaso served his first term between 1999 and 2003. Few months after climbing the throne, Emir Sanusi in his characteristic mannerism began to pick holes in ex-governor Kwankwaso’s administration, a move that earned him two queries from the former governor who was almost tempted to dethrone him. Until Kwankwaso served out his last tenure, the relationship between him and the Emir was not all that smooth owing to Emir Sanusi’s disagreement with some issues the former governor thought would have received the support of the monarch whom he personally installed, against the wishes of many stakeholders.
The ordeal of Emir Sanusi who curried a number of enemies even within the palace because of his “strange” reform agenda did not abate as most of the palace chiefs got uncomfortable with and began to initiate secret plots against him. According a top Palace Chief who spoke on condition of anonymity, “Emir Sanusi II is the architect of his own downfall. You see, you cannot take away the fact that he was a Prince and a potential heir of the throne. But what he failed to understand is that there is a gap of difference between life as a scholar, banker or administrator with life as an Emir living in the Palace. There are rules within the Palace that he failed to study before exerting powers and wield influence to suppress people in the palace.
The enemy within
“When the Emir commenced certain reforms within the palace, he was advised but he refused to take the advice. This is the reason why the enemies of the Emir within the Palace continued to grow every day. Now, I can tell you authoritatively that those fighting Emir Sanusi II are using the Palace against him. They have people here who are reporting every activities of the Emir to them minute by minute,” the source stated.
Another source at the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti Corruption Commission corroborated the Palace Chief as he insisted that 90 per cent of petitions against the Emir brought to the Commission were authored by members of the Emirate Council. Our source in the anti-corruption agency insisted that there are strong allegations of financial misappropriation against Emir Sanusi which prompted the probe. According a top officer in the Kano anti-corruption agency, “the petitions against the Emir emanated from what happened in the social media. Immediately the social media started their own, many people agitated for investigation and we have never uncovered the identity of those who initiated the investigation, but they called themselves Friends of the Emirate. Some of the petitions were signed, they brought them to the Commission and they keep disturbing us to act on the petition.
“Now, you know this is an era where whistle blowers have protection; and they are within the Emirate CouncilI mean that those bringing the information and other sensitive documents to the Commission are within the Emirate Council; and they don’t want to be named. Look at what is happening, we have an inside source and by what they told us, then we deem it necessary, and very necessary to investigate the matter. Why we are investigating is not to embarrass anybody but only to ascertain the true situation of what was brought to us, and there is no more, no less,” the source stated.
Though many have suspected that the travails of Emir Sanusi II is being instigated from Kano State Government House owing to recent comments credited to the Emir where he attacked the Light-Rail project of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje during the Kaduna Economic Summit, but the Government House has washed its hands off the issue insisting that neither Governor Ganduje or any government official is interested in seeing the down fall of the Emir.
Speaking to The Nation on the issue, the Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, described as mischievous the insinuations that the state government is behind the travails of Emir Sanusi Muhammad II. According to him, “Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is a man that has respect for traditional institutions and will not invest time in issues that are not majorly for the development of Kano State. As I speak to you, he has been working round the clock to ensure that he delivers democratic dividends to the good people of the state.
“So, the issue of probing the Emir and the emirate council is not the business of Governor Ganduje or the state government. There is an agency in charge of entertaining petitions and complaints in respect of matters bordering on corruption. The agency is independent and has its responsibility. They know how to go about doing their job; and Governor Ganduje does not influence their activities in any way; and as such, the governor has no hand in this matter.”
Though the presidency has not made any comment on the issue yet, many also believe that the Emir is being haunted by some people in the presidency who are not comfortable with his latest outburst against the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. In fact, it is also suspected that there are thickening plots by some powerful individuals in the North to humiliate Emir Sanusi and as such influence his possible dethronement over most of his comments on the state of the North. Just last week, the Emir’s plan to travel to France was truncated. According a respected northern leader, as at last week, there were serious plot by the northern hegemony to prevail on Ganduje to dethrone him over his “stubborn” stance.
The source noted that, “the Emir had planned to travel to France, at least to spend some time there and reflect on some issues. He prevailed on the Acting governor to sign his approval letter which was rejected, because the governor who was not around could not approve his trip.”
Probing a controversial emir
Rattled by the avalanche of allegations of financial misappropriation, the Kano Emirate Council last week came out clear to explain how the finance of the Emirate Council has been since Emir Sanusi II mounted the throne. They, however, debunked allegations that the Emir inherited N4 billion from the late Emir of Kano, His Highness, Alhaji Ado Abdullahi Bayero. Addressing reporters at the Emir’s Palace, Walin Kano, Alhaji Mahe Bashir Wali, reacted to reports that the Emirate spent N6 billion left behind by the former Emir, describing the allegations as untrue.
Wali said that the Emir inherited only N1, 893, 378, 927.38, as against N4 billion touted by some people.
He added that, “before the appointment of His Highness, the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, the Kano Emirate Council has the sum of N2, 875, 168, and 431.17 under various banks as Fixed Deposit Accounts, out of which N981, 784, 503.79 was withdrawn and used during the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero on 7/2/2014 for the payment of Ado Bayero Royal City Project leaving a balance of N1, 893, 378, 927.38 with various banks.” The Kano Emirate Council further stated that about N152, 627,723.00 was paid to Dabo Gate for the procurement of furniture for the Palace, adding that, “after the demise of the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, Peace Be Upon him, all his belongings, including the furniture were removed and distributed to his heirs in accordance with Islamic injunction.
“The sum of N108 million was also paid to the heirs of the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero by the Emirate Council in respect of his personal cars inherited by the present Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II. The cars now form part of Kano Emirate Council fleet of vehicles in the Palace.” Walin Kano, however, dismissed allegations that the Emirate spent N15, 458,660.00 on travels, insisting that the amount was actually used for the construction and renovation of Fadancin Dare wing of the Palace.
The Emirate Council also admitted raising two vouchers of N6, 993, 203.00 and N5, 560, 235.00 totalling N12, 559, 435.00 to Western Union being the cost of air tickets for the Emir’s entourage, “excluding the Emir who used to pay for his ticket.” Walin Kano, however, denied the allegations that the Emirate Council spent billions of Naira on chartered flight, adding that the Emirate Council chartered flight only twice for the Emir’s movement to Sokoto and Benin City.
According to him, “The Council chartered an Air Flight only twice for His Highness for the following trips: In September, 2014 to Sokoto when the Emir paid a traditional homage (Mubaya’a) to Sultan of Sokoto after his turbaning as Emir of Kano and the Council spent N4, 651, 000.00
“In January 2015 to Benin for his installation as Chancellor of Benin University and it cost the Emirate Council N9, 071, 000.00. All the trips were made as a result of lack of schedule flight at that time to make this important and historical trips and it cost the Council the sum of N13, 722, 00.00 as against alleged N9, 071, 000.00.” The Emirate Council, however, admitted that two bullet proof cars were purchased for the Emir at the cost of N142, 800, 000.00, but insisted that the purchase was based on the advice and approval of the state government. “This was as a result of an attack on the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji (Dr.) Ado Bayero on his way back from Murtala Muhammad Mosque to the Palace,” Walin Kano added.
He also stated that N154, 873, 000.00 was paid for the purchase and replacement of vehicles that were destroyed when the Emir’s convoy was attacked by Boko Haram insurgents on his way back from Murtala Muhammad Mosque to the Palace.
The Emirate Council also insisted that the two Rolls Royce executive cars for Emir Sanusi were purchased by his friends. On spending about N37, 054, 192.06 on phone calls, the Emirate Council stated that, “it is true that N37, 054, 192.06 was paid to Airtel due to the fact that the Emir has been identified with only one local mobile phone which he uses within and outside the country. “The majority of the charges are that of roaming which are normal. The telephones of the palace are upset by the Council particularly when it comes within the provision of the budget.”
He added that, the Emirate Council actually received N1, 727, 938, 660.42 as grants from the state government between August 30, 2014 and March 1, 2017, “over and above the alleged figure of N1, 672, 953, 660.00. The Emirate Council should have received almost triple of this amount, in accordance with the law establishing Emirate Council fund of 2004.” Walin Kano further stated that, “from 2012 to date, the Council has been denied of this contribution where the sum of N1, 142, 938, 660.42 was spread and released over a period of two years i.e. 2014 and 2015 with an average monthly release of N23, 811, 222.09. The release is for the year 2012.
“In 2016 to date, the contribution started to improve from the average of N23 million per month to N40 million and the Council received the sum of N585 million within 13 months. This amount covered the period of 2013 and part of 2014 which brings the sum of N1, 727,938,660.42 as total amount received between 30/07/2014 to 01/03/2017 as earlier mentioned. From our calculations, between January 2012 to September 2016 the sum of N6, 527,013,061.00 has been held by the state government.” Walin Kano said the Emirate is ever ready to cooperate with anybody or agency who needs more clarification on the alleged financial misappropriation in the Palace.
Speaking to The Nation on why the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission is probing the Emir, the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado said, “The position of the Commission is clear, by nature of section 9 of the law setting up the Commission; we are empowered to act on our own initiative to: upon receiving complaints or petition, investigate any administrative organ of government, traditional institutions and even private organizations. We are also empowered to open up investigation on any alleged corrupt person in the state, not minding your social status and position in the society. Now I must tell you that the Commission has adequate jurisdiction to entertain the matter at hand (probe of the Emir). Now, the Emirate Council as a traditional institution is part of government agency. If you look at the law establishing the Emirate Council, you find out that the Emirate Council and the Emir himself has been attached to the government. So, that is it, the Commission has the powers to investigate activities within the Emirate Council. Also, I have made it clear that I will be very objective in the course of the investigation. As I commence the investigation, not even the governor will call me and say do it this way because I have vowed not to succumb to pressure from any quarter. At the end of the day, if the Emir and Emirate Council are clean, no problem, if they are not clean, then the law will take its course.”
In the meantime, the Kano city, the state and the nation wait with bated breath as the probe continues. Will history repeat itself as the Emir’s grandfather was years ago dethroned?