Emirs in trouble as govs suspend, query monarchs

TRACKING>>Trouble seems far from the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, as Governor Abdullahi Ganduje queried him over alleged misappropriation of N3.4 billion meant for the Emirate Council Funds.
Sanusi, the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has 48 hours to respond to the query. The query was dated Thursday, June 6, 2019.
Also, the Zamfara State Government has, yesterday, suspended two traditional rulers over their involvement in banditry ravaging the North-West state.
A source told New Telegraph that the Emir received the query signed by the Secretary to the Government of Kano State, Usman Alhaji, yesterday.
The query states: “The Kano State Government is in receipt of a Report by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, dated May 31, 2019, as per copy attached herewith, on the on-going investigation by the Commission involving the misappropriation of the total sum of N3.4 billion by the Kano State Emirate Council under your leadership between the Years 2014 and 2017. Specifically, the Report has indicated the aspects of the allegations and recommendations as set out at pages 14 -16 therein.
“Accordingly, the commission, in its report under reference, has recommended for your suspension and all other suspects connected with the issue, pending the outcome of the case, and in order to allow for unhindered investigative processes.
“In the light of the foregoing, therefore, I am to request you to give satisfactory explanations on the allegations raised within 48 hours of the receipt of this letter to allow government to take appropriate decision on the issue in earnest.
“Accept my best regards, please.”
Chief of Staff to the Emir, Munir Sanusi, confirmed the receipt of the query.
He said that the Kano Emirate Council is studying the content of the query.
A source told New Telegraph that Governor Ganduje consented to query being issued to the Emir over his alleged interference with the investigation of financial recklessness of the Kano Emirate Council.
Meanwhile, the Zamfara Government has, with immediate effect, suspended a first class traditional ruler, the Emir of Maru, Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim, over alleged involvement with bandits in the state.
The suspension is contained in a statement signed by Mr. Yusuf Idris, Director-General to the governor on Press Affairs and made available to newsmen in Gusau yesterday.
The statement also announced the suspension of Alhaji Ahmed Lawal, the District Head of Kanoma.
Kanoma was attacked during the Sallah celebration, leaving no fewer than 16 persons dead and 14 others wounded.
“His Excellency, the Zamfara State Governor, Hon. (Dr.) Bello Mohammed, has approved the suspension of the Emir of Maru, Alhaji Abubakar Cika Ibrahim (Banagan Maru).
“The governor also approved the suspension of the District Head of Kanoma, Alhaji Ahmed Lawal (Bunun Kanoma),” the statement read in part.
Ibrahim and Lawal would “remain suspended pending the conclusion of an investigative panel soon to be set up by the state government.”
According to Idris, the suspensions followed series of complaints from the communities regarding the traditional rulers’ alleged dealings with bandits.
The statement directed the suspended Emir to hand over his official vehicle and all other government property in his possession to the most senior district head.
“The district head is also directed to handover same to the most senior village head in the area,” it statement said.
The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission has declared that it uncovered over N3.4 billion allegedly misappropriated by the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II.
The alleged amount was said to have been misappropriated between 2014 and 2017.
This is contained in a preliminary report of investigation conducted by the commission and signed by its Chairman, Mr. Muhuyi Magaji.
According to the report, the investigation was in respect of a petition of financial misappropriation levelled against Kano Emirate Council under the present Emir, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II.
The interim report raised four cardinal issues bordering on indictments, amount involved, obstruction of investigation and recommendations.
The report indicated that the Kano Emirate Council had spent over N1.4 billion in various expenditures believed to be fraudulent and unappropriated.
In addition, the Emirate Council was alleged to have spent over N1.9 billion unappropriated on seemingly personal expenditures, making the total sum of the questionable expenditures.
According to the report, the expenditures contravened the provisions of Section 120 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 8 of the Kano State Emirate Council Special Fund Law 2004.
Similarly, the expenditures had also violated Section 314 of Penal Code as well as provisions of Section 26 of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended).
“It is also the opinion of this Commission, based on the available evidence, that Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II continued to undermine the investigation through various means which include giving instruction to all officers invited for clarification to shun the commission’s invitation.
“The act is seriously affecting the process of our statutory responsibility and offends the provisions of Section 25 of the Commission’s enabling Law 2008 (as amended),” the report said.
The report, therefore, recommended that the principal suspect in the person of Muhammadu Sanusi II and all other suspects connected with the case be suspended, pending the final outcome of the investigations.
“This is a necessary administrative disciplinary action aimed at preventing the suspects from further interfering with the commission’s investigations.
“The commission further recommends that the contract awarded to Tri-C Nigeria Limited for renovation of Babban Daki, Kofar Kudu and Gidan Sarki Dorayi should be revoked as the company belongs to one of the suspects in person of Alhaji Mannir Sanusi, (The Chief of Staff in the Emirate),” it said.
According to the report, the company failed to settle the sub-contractor, Cardinal Architecture Ltd., after being duly paid.
It further recommended that appropriate authority should be put in place to oversee the affairs of the Emirate Council in line with established statutes and policies, pending the final outcome of the commission’s investigations.
It also recommended that further legal action should be taken against all the suspects as soon as the final outcome of the investigations was concluded and legal advice accordingly issued.