The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has successfully frozen ₦160 million linked to a local government contract scandal and is working to recover an additional ₦440 million. The investigation revolves around allegations of improper awarding of contracts within the state’s local government councils.
As part of the probe, Musa Garba Kwankwaso, a nephew of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and owner of Novomed Pharmaceuticals, is set to be questioned on Thursday. Novomed Pharmaceuticals is at the center of the controversy, with allegations that it received exclusive contracts to supply drugs to the state’s 44 local government councils without following due process. Each council was reportedly instructed to pay approximately ₦9 million monthly, amounting to ₦396 million.
The scandal gained attention after Nigerian filmmaker Bello Galadanchi accused the Kano State government of directing local councils to pay around ₦10 million for drug supplies under dubious circumstances. It is reported that 25 local governments have already made payments for August to Novomed Pharmaceuticals.
Critics have raised concerns over the transparency of the local governments’ interim management committees, which were appointed by Governor Yusuf in March following the expiration of the elected council chairmen’s tenures. Governor Yusuf has since denied any prior knowledge of the contract and has ordered an immediate investigation.
PCACC Chairman Muhuyi Magaji confirmed that several individuals, including high-ranking officials from the Ministry for Local Governments and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Kano State, have been summoned for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.
