Kano State House of Assembly has launched an investigation against Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi ll, over alleged abuse of office and improper conduct.

The emirate council is already being investigated by the state anti-corruption agency over allegation of financial fraud running into billions of naira.

The House yesterday constituted an 8-man committee to investigate eight offences allegedly committed by the emir.

The committee was constituted following a motion by Mr Ibrahim Ahmad Gama, Nassarawa Constituency.

The 8-man committee was headed by a member representing (Warawa), Mr Labaran Abdul.

The allegations are:  Accusing the state governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the state legislators of mismanaging state resources while on an official visit to China.

• Making remarks in Kaduna on the proposed Kano light rail project which had tarnished his (Gama) image, the government and the assembly as well.

• Allegation by the emir that the state governor and his entourage wasted one month in China seeking for loan to construct the light rail in the state.

On this Gama said “First of all, we did not spend one month in China. We only spent four days and our mission was to find out the capability of the company to handle the rail project but not to secure any loan as alleged by the emir.”

He added that the emir’s allegation had caused serious embarrassment to him (the lawmaker), the state government and the House of Assembly within and outside the state. 

• Intentionally attacking  President Muhammadu Buhari whenever he got an opportunity to speak at a public gathering. He said this had contravened the culture of traditional institution.

• Embezzlement of funds belonging to the emirate council.

• Tarnishing the image of the emirate by assigning his daughter to represent him at a public function, introducing strange religious issues and involvement in politics.

• Downgrading the honour of the Kano emirate council by assigning his daughter to represent him at a function organised by the #BringBackourGirls# group in Abuja, saying it was against the emirate’s tradition.

On this he said: “There are many responsible members of Kano emirate council members that can represent the emir at the event instead of his daughter. This is the first time we are witnessing this kind of representation in the history of Kano emirate council.

“The mode of dressing of the Emir’s daughter at the event was an embarrassment not only to the emirate council but the entire people of Kano", he lamented.

Gama, therefore, appealed to the house to investigate activities of the emirate council with a view to correcting things.

It would also be recalled that Kano state Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission is currently investigating Kano emirate council over alleged embezzlement of over N6 billion in three years.

Three officials of the emirate council were expected to appear before the commission today (Thursday) to answer some questions as a continuation of the ongoing investigation which the commission commenced last month.

However, Chairman of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Agency, Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado said Kano state House of Assembly did not notify the commission on its decision to launch investigation into the activities of the emirate council.

He said, “The commission has suspended its investigation pending the outcome of the Assembly’s. This is because according to section 16 of the commission’s law, we are prevented from investigating any matter that is before the State Assembly, Executive and or court of law.

“And the law of the commission is a product of Kano State House of Assembly. So, as a mark of respect, we have suspended our investigation into the embezzlement of over N6 billion by Kano State Emirate Council pending outcome of the House ofAssembly’s investigation.

He said if the House investigation was only focused on the administrative aspect, the commission could have gone ahead with its ongoing investigation.” 

But he added that since it borders on allegation of financial fraud, the commission could not go concurrently with the assembly investigating the same issue.

When contacted for comment, Walin Kano, Alhaji Mahe Bashir Wali, said the emirate had not yet received any invitation letter from the State House of Assembly in respect of the probe.

“I only heard about the development on television, but we did not receive any invitation letter from the house in that respect,” he said.

The probe is coming at a time when five northern governors -  Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto, Nasiru El-Rufa’i of Kaduna, Kashim Shettima of Borno, Aminu Masari of Katsina and Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger were said to have brokered a truce at a peace meeting in Kaduna penultimate Friday between Governor Ganduje and the Emir.

Daily Trust