BY CHRIS OCHAYI
ABUJA—The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, is investigating the immediate past governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, over alleged fraud and misappropriation of public funds running to N420 million.

ICPC’s Resident Consultant, Media & Event, Mr. Folu Olamiti, in a statement yesterday, said: “Malam Shekarau was alleged to have committed fraud, abuse of power, inflation of contracts sum, double awards of contracts and other vices in gross violation of ICPC Act.”

“The former Presidential candidate of All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP, in the April 2011 general election is being investigated following a petition against him by a  Kano based non-governmental organisation, NGO.

“The group had in the petition forwarded to the anti-graft agency alleged that Malam Shekarau indulged himself in some unwholesome acts in breach of several provisions of the ICPC Act 2000.”

Olamiti explained  that the Acting Chairman of the Commission,  Abdullahi Bako, had directed that the former governor be invited for questioning because a prima facie case was established against him.

The petitioner, he said, “alleged further that Malam Shekarau engaged in diversion and embezzlement of billions of naira belonging to the state government through an ambiguous expenditure known as reciprocal arrangement.

“ICPC investigators, in their report, alleged that Malam Shekarau awarded the construction of an 11-bedroom house for himself while in office for N286, 434,168.51 in gross violation of laid down rules and regulation.

“He was also alleged to have awarded contracts to a company in which he had substantial interest as well as paying for some furniture twice.

“Based on the petition, the ICPC team of investigators visited the state and uncovered a lot of financial malpractices in the award of contracts as claimed by the petitioner.

“In the report submitted by ICPC operatives to the acting chairman of the commission, a prima facie case was established against the former governor.

The report stated further that the contractor was mobilised “with N119, 330,955.91 on October 18, 2007, representing 50 per cent of the contract sum, contrary to Section 35 of the Procurement Act which provided for 15 per cent mobilisation for any form of contract awarded.”

“Mallam Shekarau was further alleged to have ordered the release of several millions of naira to the contractor handling the project without referring to the financial regulation and ignoring advice from the state ministry of land.

“Already, the contractor and officials of the ministry of works kano state have made useful statements to the anti-graft agency on the issues raised by the petitioner.

“Consequently, the Acting Chairman of the Commission, Hon. Abdullahi Bako had directed that the former Governor be invited for questioning to answer questions relating to the issues raised in the petition.”