Kano Anti-Corruption Commission Recovers Official Vehicles From Resigned Commissioners

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has recovered official government vehicles from five former commissioners who recently voluntarily resigned from the Kano State Executive Council but allegedly failed to return public assets in their custody.

The recovery exercise was carried out on Thursday by operatives of the commission following what officials described as the continued refusal of the affected former commissioners to hand over government vehicles despite repeated official notices.

Those affected include Ibrahim Umar (Air Vice Marshal, rtd), former Commissioner for Internal Security; Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Commissioner for Youth and Sports; Yusuf Ibrahim Kofar Mata, former Commissioner for Science and Technology; Adamu Aliyu Kibiya; and Nasiru Sani Garo.

Briefing journalists after the operation, the Chairman of the Commission, Sa’idu Yahaya, said the action became inevitable after the former commissioners failed to comply with several formal requests to return government property assigned to them during their tenure.

Yahaya disclosed that the operation was triggered by official complaints and correspondence from the Office of the Secretary to the Kano State Government, which serves as the custodian of all government vehicles. The office reportedly raised concerns over alleged abuse of office and the urgent need to recover state-owned assets following the officials’ resignation.

According to the commission, five vehicles were recovered from the former commissioners. However, Yahaya revealed that only two of the recovered vehicles were the original official vehicles purchased by the Kano State Government.

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“Investigation revealed that three of the official vehicles had allegedly been sold and replaced with other vehicles. We recovered those replacement vehicles as well,” he said.

He added that the commission has launched a full-scale investigation to determine whether the original vehicles were unlawfully disposed of and whether the proceeds were used to procure the replacements or diverted for other purposes.

“Government assets are not personal property. Once an official leaves office, all government vehicles and assets in their custody must be returned immediately. They were advised to comply, but they refused. We followed due process and obtained a valid court order before carrying out this recovery,” Yahaya stated.

The anti-corruption boss dismissed claims that the operation was politically motivated, insisting that the commission acted strictly within its statutory mandate to protect public assets and enforce accountability.

“This is not witch-hunting. It is about safeguarding the resources of the people of Kano State. No individual is above the law, and we will not tolerate the unlawful retention or disposal of government property,” he said.

Yahaya further warned that the commission would sustain active surveillance and routine audits on the use and custody of public assets, stressing that similar enforcement actions would be taken against any serving or former official found to be in breach of asset return regulations.

“Public trust depends on transparency and accountability. We are determined to strengthen both,” he added.

Providing administrative clarification, a retired senior civil servant, Mohammad Tukur, explained that no existing law or policy permits a commissioner to retain an official vehicle after leaving office, whether by resignation or removal.

“Official vehicles are provided strictly for the performance of official duties. There is no legal provision that allows a commissioner to keep a government vehicle at the end of tenure,” he said.

Tukur noted, however, that only the Governor of Kano State retains the discretionary executive power to approve the retention of a vehicle by any official, and such approval must be explicitly granted.

“Under administrative policy, what commissioners are entitled to upon exit are certain allowances, not government vehicles. Even those allowances may not apply in cases of resignation or dismissal,” he explained.

The development is part of a broader asset recovery and accountability drive by Kano State authorities aimed at curbing abuse of office, protecting public resources, and reinforcing discipline within government institutions.

Kano Anti-Corruption Commission Recovers Official Vehicles From Resigned Commissioners