The Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, has alleged that his recent arrest by the police was orchestrated by a suspect under investigation for siphoning N4 billion in public funds. Rimingado made this revelation during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme on Monday, where he described his ordeal as a case of “corruption fighting back.”
According to Rimingado, his commission had uncovered the diversion of N4 billion from the Kano State Government through multiple entities linked to a former Managing Director of Kano Agricultural Supply Company Limited (KASCO), Bala Muhammed Inuwa. He stated that properties linked to the fraud were seized and the matter charged to court in accordance with Section 40 of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission law.
Rimingado explained that after the accused was arraigned and detained, efforts were made to recover the seized properties, which were considered exhibits in the ongoing trial. “The accused employed various tactics to reclaim the exhibits, which is not permissible under the law,” Rimingado said. “We acted to secure the properties in a safe location until the court makes its final ruling, and that seems to have triggered these retaliatory actions.”
The anti-graft czar alleged that multiple federal agencies have been mobilized against him, adding, “When you fight corruption, corruption fights back. While anti-corruption fights are fair, corruption’s response is always dirty.”
Sahara Reporters earlier reported that Rimingado was arrested by officers from the Inspector General of Police (IGP)’s office and detained at Zone One Police Headquarters in Kano. Sources revealed that the arrest was led by ASP Ahmed Bello of the IGP Monitoring Unit, who reportedly received orders to transfer Rimingado to Force Headquarters in Abuja. However, the anti-corruption chief was released later that night.
The arrest is reportedly linked to the trial of Bala Muhammed Inuwa, the former Managing Director of KASCO, who is accused of diverting over N4 billion in public funds. The trial, which began in November 2023, is being presided over by Justice Hafsat Yahaya at the Kano High Court. The court had ordered the seizure of properties and funds tied to the case pending its conclusion.
Insiders from the Kano Anti-Corruption Commission disclosed that during an earlier meeting at the police headquarters, Inuwa claimed the seized items belonged to former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, asserting they could not be taken away from him. Rimingado suggested that the police were being used to intimidate him into relinquishing the evidence, stating, “When they realized they couldn’t succeed in court, they activated the police to arrest me.”
This development underscores the complexities and risks associated with anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria, particularly when high-profile figures and substantial sums of money are involved. Observers have expressed concern over the alleged misuse of law enforcement agencies to undermine corruption investigations, describing it as a dangerous precedent that threatens the credibility of justice and governance.
As the case unfolds, many Nigerians will be watching closely to see whether justice prevails or if political influence continues to derail the fight against corruption in Kano State. For Rimingado, the battle is not just about exposing corruption but also about enduring the fierce resistance that often accompanies it.
PIONEER NEWS 