FG files corruption charges against Kano anti-graft boss, Muhuyi Magaji

Muhuyi Magaji Rimin-Gado

FG files corruption charges against Kano anti-graft boss, Muhuyi Magaji

The Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), Muhuyi Magaji Rimin-Gado, has been accused of engaging in a web of financial irregularities, false asset declarations, and egregious abuse of office.

The charges outlined in a notice dated November 1, 2023, signed by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Registrar Binta Garba, made damning allegations against the anti-corruption crusader.

He is set to be hauled before the CCT over an alleged fraud worth N394 million.

Magaji was also accused of illegally depositing a staggering N394 million into an account bearing his name, fuelling suspicions of corruption and money laundering.

The charges further alleged a litany of offences, including conflict of interest, false asset declarations, and receiving unexplained funds amounting to millions of naira in his bank accounts.

One of the accusations also involves Magaji’s approval of an audit fee of N1,766,666.06 per annum for the services of Messrs Salihu Metala & Co., far exceeding the N600,000 initially submitted by the auditing firm.

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The notice claims that this action directly violates the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, raising questions about the integrity of the man entrusted with combating corruption.

The charges also include accusations of deliberate omissions in Magaji’s asset declaration forms, specifically pointing to undisclosed bank accounts with Sterling Bank, United Bank for Africa, and First Bank for Africa. The omission of the accounts allegedly occurred over multiple years, sparking concerns about the transparency and honesty of the anti-corruption chief.

The notice reads in part, “Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission of Kano State and thereby a public officer on or about 24th June, 2022 when you submitted your form CCB1 NO: KNSE149484 did make a false declaration by omitting and refusing to declare Account No: 0010209467 maintained with Sterling Bank which has been in operation since 2nd of May, 2016 and you thereby contravened the provisions of Paragraph 11(2) of Fifth Schedule Part 1 to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as altered and punishable under paragraph 18 (1) and (2) of the fifth schedule of the same Constitution.

“THAT YOU, MUHUYI MAGAJI, whilst being the Executive Chairman of Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission of Kano state and thereby a public officer sometime in 2015, 2020 and 2022 when you submitted your form CCBI NO: KNSE149484 did make a false declaration by omitting and refusing to declare Account No: Account No: 1010447759 maintained with United Bank for Africa which has been in operation since 2nd of May, 2016 and you thereby contravene the provisions of Paragraph 11(2) of Fifth Schedule Part 1 to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as altered and punishable under paragraph 18 (1) and (2) of the fifth schedule of the same constitution.