The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has exposed the theft of a whooping N18 billion, implicating both politicians and civil servants in the state.
According to the Commission’s chairman, Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, an alarming 90 percent of the corruption cases currently under investigation involve civil servants, particularly through procurement processes.
Rimingado expressed concern that civil servants have become deeply entangled in corrupt activities, often manipulated by politicians to divert public funds.
Speaking at an Anti-Corruption workshop organized for senior civil servants, he emphasized the critical role that civil servants play in facilitating these illegal activities and warned of the severe consequences.
“The civil service is being exploited by politicians to violate the law,” Rimingado stated. “Our investigations reveal that civil servants are central to nearly all major corruption cases we’re examining in Kano. Procurement processes, in particular, are being used as a cover for these illicit activities.”
He also highlighted a specific case where local government cashiers were used by politicians to funnel public money through their personal accounts, which was then exchanged for foreign currency and returned to the politicians.
“The civil servants are being used by politicians against the law. All the ground corrupt practices the agency is investigating in Kano civil servants are the ingredients and tools in the hands of those elements who perpetrate the practice at the high level,” he said.
“Again, 90 percent of corruption cases are perpetrated through procurement services. When politicians want to steal they use procurement aas cover up. We also have a case where the politicians used local government cashiers personal accounts to siphon public funds. The cashiers volunteered to withdraw the monies, take to bureau De change and make returns.”
The workshop aimed to educate civil servants on Anti-Corruption laws, public procurement regulations, and financial management practices to help them navigate their responsibilities within the framework of the law.
Abdullahi Musa, Kano State’s Head of Service, supported Rimingado’s concerns, acknowledging that corruption is undermining the integrity of the civil service.
He announced that the government plans to review financial regulations to align with current economic realities and ensure better management of public funds.
Similarly, Ibrahim Garba Kagara, the state coordinator of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), pointed out that contract inflation, substandard services, and the complete absence of project execution are some of the primary forms of corruption in Kano. He reiterated the need for more stringent measures to ensure value for money in public projects.
