Kano anti-graft chief charged for alleged N390 million fraud

By Hannah Nathan, Warri

Muhuyi Magaji, the chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Graft Commission, has been charged with ten counts of corruption and being held before the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja.

Allegations of violating the public officer code of conduct, conflict of interest, abuse of office, false asset declaration, bribery, and accepting gifts are among the charges brought by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

The case had been adjourned until January 10, 2024, and Magaji has been granted bail of N5 million with two sureties who own properties in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This was revealed as the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) continue their investigations into Magaji’s tenure under Abdullahi Ganduje’s administration, the former governor of Kano State.

Based on a widely shared video that allegedly showed the former governor accepting cash kickbacks from a contractor, Magaji was looking into allegations of corruption against him. If Ganduje was found guilty, Magaji promised to prosecute him.

In related correspondence, the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Graft Commission has been asked to provide financial records and information about properties that have been forfeited by the EFCC and CCB separately.

The agencies are requesting details of contractual undertakings by the Commission from 2016 to the present, as well as information on funds released by the Kano State Ministry of Local Government and the Office of the Accountant General of Kano State from 2019 to 2021.