In the course of investigating the N440 million medicines contract scam in 44 local government areas of the state, questions have been extended to Jibril Falgore, the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Deputy Speaker Muhammad Butu, and three other individuals.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) extended an invitation to them yesterday.
The Clerk of the House, Bashir Diso, the Leader of the Minority, Lawan Dala, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs were also invited.
On September 19, interrogation will take place with the exception of the Permanent Secretary, who will meet with the ICPC team on September 18.
The invitation letter, dated yesterday and sent to each person on the list, said, “The commission is looking into allegations of breaking the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, No. 5 2000.”
“Pursuant to Section 28 of the said Act, you are to appear for an interview before the undersigned at the ICPC headquarters, Abuja. You are expected to come with either a lawyer, Justice of Peace, Staff of the Legal Aid Council, or any individual of your choice.
“The appointment is scheduled and should be strictly adhered to. Accept the assurances of the Hon. Chairman’s highest regard.”
The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has been looking into the N440 million pharmaceutical contract that NOVOMED Pharmaceuticals was given since July 18.
There were claims that the deal violated the state’s Financial Management Law and Procurement Law, as it was intended to distribute pharmaceuticals to 44 local government units.
However, on August 27, a court order prohibiting the state anti-graft agency from looking into the purported medicines contract scam was obtained by the Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), the Ministry of Local Government Affairs, and all 44 council heads.
According to Sections 34, 35, 36, 41, and 46 of the 1999 Constitution, they requested the court to rule that the applicants’ and their employees’ arrest and detention by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission constituted an infringement and encroachment of their fundamental human rights.
The applicants further requested that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kano Zonal Command, the Inspector General of Police (Zone 1) Kano, the Commissioner of Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the ICPC be placed under restraint by the Kano State High Court, which is chaired by Justice Ibrahim Musa Muhammad.
The case was postponed until September 12 (yesterday) by Justice Muhammad, who approved the plea to retrain the ICPC and others.
However, Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN), the chairman of the ICPC, stated that the chairmen do not have the legal authority to bring the matter before the Kano State High Court because the Supreme Court has ruled that all LGA caretaker committees are unlawful nationwide.
Additionally, he said that because the 1999 Constitution did not include these committees, the Kano State House of Assembly’s vote to prolong the terms of the 44 chairmen of the 44 Caretaker Committees in the councils was invalid.
He requested that the restraining order that ALGON, the 44 chairmen of the Caretaker Committees, and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs had requested be revoked by the court.
The ICPC had made the decision to proceed with the investigation into the N440 million pharmaceuticals deal as of last night’s press time.
A source said: “We received Intel from a whistleblower on the drugs scandal and we have decided to investigate all the allegations. There are many other allegations we are looking into.
“We have invited the Speaker and five others to assist in the course of our investigation. We need to ask them to clarify some issues which may inhibit ongoing investigation.”
