The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has detained five people, including Garba Kwankwaso, the nephew of former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, in connection with an alleged multibillion-dollar drug supply fraud.
The anti-graft commission’s Public Relations Officer, Kabiru Kabiru, informed journalists in Kano of the development on Wednesday.
According to Kabiru, the others arrested were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Kabara, and the Chairman of the Tauroni Local Government Area, Alhaji Abdullahi Bashir.
The anti-graft agency said that Kwankwaso’s nephew, the Managing Director of Novomed Pharmaceuticals, and others conspired to grant Novomed a contract for the delivery of medications to 38 LGAs in the state in contravention of public procurement laws.
“We have 44 LGAs in the state and they succeeded in collecting N9.150m from 38 councils for supply of the drugs that were not supplied.
“The findings also revealed that all the suspects are cooperating with the commission’s investigation team.”
The spokesman said the commission was working to unravel the full extent of the alleged scam and bring those responsible to justice.
He also confirmed that the suspects were in the commission’s custody while the investigation was still ongoing.
