The Executive Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), Muhuyi Magaji Rimin-Gado, has been charged with multiple counts of financial misconduct, false asset declaration, and abuse of office by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
According to a notice dated November 1, 2023, obtained, Magaji is accused of illegally depositing N394 million into his personal account, exceeding the approved audit fee for an external firm, and failing to disclose several bank accounts in his asset declaration forms.
The notice alleges that Magaji violated the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, which requires public officers to act with integrity, transparency, and accountability.
Magaji is expected to appear before the CCT to answer the charges, which could result in his removal from office, forfeiture of assets, and imprisonment if found guilty.
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Magaji has been the head of the PCACC since 2015 and has been involved in several high-profile corruption cases in Kano State. He has also faced several allegations of corruption and victimization from his critics and opponents.
One of the charges against Magaji also claims that he received a total of N69,096,709.19 in his Sterling Bank account between January 2018 and September 2023, which could not be explained by his income, gifts, or loans. This is said to contravene the provisions of Section 15 (3) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, which prohibits public officers from maintaining or operating a bank account in any country outside Nigeria.
The CCT will sit on the matter on Thursday in Kano, where Magaji will have to defend himself against the allegations.
Meanwhile, a Kano High Court in August 2023 barred the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) from probing Magaji.
The court order came after the Kano State government sued the federal government over what it described as harassment and intimidation of the PCACC by the three federal agencies.
The EFCC, ICPC, and CCB had earlier sent invitations to the PCACC and its officials to answer questions concerning the activities of the commission from 2011 to date.
The Kano State government argued that the PCACC was an independent body established by the state law and not subject to the supervision or control of the federal agencies.
The court granted an interim injunction restraining the federal agencies from interfering with the functions of the PCACC or arresting, detaining, or prosecuting Magaji or any of his staff.
The court also ordered the federal agencies to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.