The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested five persons, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mohammed Kabawa, over an alleged multi-billion naira drugs supply scam.

Also arrested by the commission was the chairman of the Kano State Association for Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Abdullahi Bashir, who is the Chairman of Tauroni Local Government Area.

The anti-graft agency also arrested the Managing Director of Novomed Pharmaceuticals, Garba Kwankwaso, who is the nephew of former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, in connection with the alleged scam.

The suspects were accused of connivance to award a contract to Novomed for the supply of drugs to 38 Local Government Areas in Kano State, thus violating public procurement laws.

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It was gathered that each of the 38 LGAs paid N9.150 million to Novomed for the procurement of drugs but the drugs were not supplied.

“We have 44 LGAs in the state and they succeeded in collecting N9.150 from 38 councils for the supply of the drugs that were not supplied.

“The findings also revealed that all the suspects are cooperating with the commission’s investigation team,” a source close to the case disclosed.

The spokesperson for the commission, Kabiru Kabiru, confirmed the arrests on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, adding that an investigation was ongoing.

Kabiru said the agency was working to unravel the full extent of the alleged scam and bring those responsible to justice.

He added that the suspects were in the commission’s custody.

The Star