The Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, Barrister Muhuyi Rimingado, has revealed that the commission has uncovered an extensive corruption scheme involving the siphoning of N18 billion by politicians in collaboration with civil servants in the state.
Rimingado made the disclosure on Saturday during a one-day capacity-building workshop organized by the commission in partnership with the office of the Kano State Head of Civil Service and International IDEA (ROLAC II Programme).
The workshop, aimed at sensitizing Kano State Civil Service Directors on anti-corruption practices, addressed the alarming involvement of civil servants in corrupt activities.
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According to Rimingado, civil servants have been central to the corrupt practices uncovered by the commission. He highlighted that in nearly all significant corruption cases under investigation, civil servants played crucial roles, often becoming tools for politicians to execute fraudulent schemes.
“90 percent of corrupt practices are perpetrated through procurement processes, which are manipulated by politicians with the help of civil servants,” Rimingado stated. He emphasized the need for civil servants to be aware of the laws governing public procurement and financial management, as well as the consequences of participating in corrupt activities.
Rimingado warned that the commission would henceforth impose strict penalties on any civil servant found involved in corruption. He noted that the workshop was designed to educate civil servants on how to handle public finances and adhere to anti-corruption laws, aiming to reduce their vulnerability to manipulation by politicians.
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“We intend to sensitize civil servants against being used by politicians to violate the law. They are often caught in the middle of corrupt practices. In all major corruption cases the agency is investigating in Kano, civil servants are the instruments used by high-level operatives,” Rimingado explained.
He also highlighted specific cases where local government cashiers were used to siphon public funds, convert them through bureau de change operations, and return the proceeds to the politicians. The commission is determined to enforce the state’s zero-tolerance policy on corruption, holding all parties involved accountable.
Speaking at the event, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, represented by his Deputy Governor, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, expressed deep concern over the massive looting of the state’s treasury by the previous administration. He urged civil service directors to reject all forms of corruption and to commit to honesty, dedication, and selfless service for the development of the state.
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The Head of Civil Service, Abdullahi Musa, also addressed the participants, stressing the importance of their roles as managers of public resources. He called on them to be exemplary leaders, ensuring that public funds are used effectively and judiciously for the benefit of all citizens, and to join hands in stamping out corruption from the state’s civil service.
The workshop is part of a broader initiative by the Kano State Government to combat corruption and promote transparency in public service, with a focus on educating and empowering civil servants to resist corrupt practices.