The probe Muhammadu Sanusi II is undergoing has taken another turn as the investigation report has recommended suspension for the emir as he was accused of obstructing investigation.
The present situation portends evil is fast approaching for the embattled emir and this was what his grandfather, Muhammdu Sanusi, who occupied the same throne was subjected to in 1963.
He was humiliated to the extent of being banished to Azare in Bauchi where he died 20 years after.
Is history actually repeating itself between grandfather and grandson?
Already, the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission says it has 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 expenditure believed to be fraudulent and not appropriated.
In addition, the Emirate Council was alleged to have spent over N1.9 billion not appropriated on seemingly personal expenditures, making the total sum of the questionable expenditures.
According to the report, the expenditure 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 were concluded and legal advice accordingly issued
Meanwhile, the Emirate Council, as at the time of writing this report, said to be studying the querry issued by Governor Ibrahim Gnduje of Kano State in order to come up with an appropriate response, is yet to react to this fresh development, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports.
