Nation
N4bn Seized Assets, Arrest Of Kano Anti-Corruption Chair, Magaji, Raise Fresh Dust
Two weeks after relocating seized properties linked to a high-profile corruption case, Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), has found himself on the other side of the law, facing alleged arrest by the Nigeria police.
His arrest and subsequent release have generated significant debates and controversies.
Magaji was arrested on Friday on the order of the Inspector General of Police (IGP). The team was led by ASP Ahmed Bello. The arrest is reportedly linked to the ongoing trial of Bala Muhammad Inuwa, the former Managing Director of the Kano Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO).
Inuwa’s trial which began in November 2023 at the Kano High Court under the presiding judge, Justice Hafsat Yahaya, is centered around the seizure of properties, including bank accounts, allegedly linked to the embezzlement of over ¦ 4 billion in public funds.
Inuwa was arrested in August 2023 by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) for allegedly diverting government funds through the Association of Compassionate Friends, an NGO he founded.
Along with his son, Bala Inuwa Muhammad Jr., and other associates, Inuwa faces multiple charges, including criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation, and making false statements. The charges claim that, between August 2022 and April 2023, they transferred funds meant for KASCO into personal accounts.
Following their arrests, a Kano State High Court granted administrative bail to Inuwa on self-recognizance, while his son was granted bail under strict conditions, including a ¦ 10 million bond.
Legal proceedings continued, with Inuwa’s legal team challenging the PCACC’s jurisdiction, seeking the withdrawal of certain judges, and requesting the removal of police officers stationed at Limestone Processing Links Ltd.
It took another turn when Inuwa accused PCACC in January 2025 of violating court orders by seizing his property, which led to a public outcry.
He urged law enforcement agencies to respect judicial decisions and not undermine the court’s authority in the ongoing legal matters.
Speaking to journalists on January 8, Inuwa claimed the agency had taken over properties stocked with trailers, fertilizer grinding machines, and other agricultural implements in contravention of a High Court order.
In response, the PCACC chair vehemently dismissed these allegations, arguing that the restraining orders obtained by Inuwa were interim orders that had expired since 2024.
He also noted that the PCACC was not made a party to the proceedings, despite being the primary agency in charge of the confiscated properties.
Magaji emphasized that Section 40 of the Kano Anti-Corruption Law empowers the commission to secure such properties while the case is ongoing.
Two weeks ago, Magaji disclosed during a press briefing that his commission had thwarted an attempt to relocate seized properties worth over ¦ 2 billion, including trailers, trucks, and minivans. The items were moved to a state government warehouse in Nasarawa GRA from their previous location in Kumbotso Local Government Area.
However on Friday, Magaji was arrested by the IGP monitoring team and released the same day at around 10:45 p.m.
According to his lawyer, Usman Umar Fari, the arrest was based on allegations of misappropriating ¦ 4 billion and confiscating properties worth ¦ 2 billion.
Fari criticized the police’s actions as a breach of legal process, noting that the complaints against Magaji involve cases already before the courts.
However, the Nigeria Police on Monday responded by issuing a statement to clarify the situation.
According to the police, Magaji was not arrested but was instead invited for questioning in relation to a petition filed against him.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stated, “We wish to clarify that Mr. Magaji was not arrested; instead, he was invited by the Force pertaining to a petition received against him. Any assertions indicating that Mr. Magaji was arrested are unfounded and misleading.”
Speaking on Channels Television on Monday, Magaji alleged that his arrest was orchestrated by a suspect being prosecuted by his agency.
He described it as retaliation from individuals within the corruption world.
“Anti-corruption fights are fair, but corruption fights are dirty. There are lots of activities being orchestrated against my person,” he said.
Magaji accused the accused persons of attempting to tamper with evidence, prompting his decision to relocate the seized properties to a more secure location.
He added, “When they couldn’t succeed in court, they activated the police to arrest me.”
Also, at a One-Day Dissemination Event for Kano Open Government Partnership (OGP) Second State Action Plan (SAP II 2024-2025) and the Kano State Anti-Corruption Strategy (2024-2028) held on Tuesday in Kano, Magaji, lamented the challenges faced in combating corruption, emphasizing how corrupt individuals exploit the system to fight back.
He detailed the ongoing case and how it unfolded.
“That money we are talking about was put in KASCO’s account between May 2022 and May 2023. The then head of the agency siphoned it. We traced about ¦ 700 million cash that was not spent, blocked it, and identified over ¦ 43 billion that had been spent. We tracked the assets they purchased, seized them in accordance with the law, and charged the matter to court.”
Magaji explained that while the Commission made progress in the case, efforts were obstructed by what he termed “judicial interference.”
He recounted how ¦ 200 million of the blocked funds were allegedly removed through questionable judicial maneuvers.
“Somebody, through the backdoor, used our judicial system to help these people remove ¦ 200 million out of the ¦ 700 million we blocked. They are using this money to fight back. Beyond that, they attempted to seize the property we pledged as evidence before the court. That’s when I said, ‘No.’”
Magaji criticized the alleged complicity of law enforcement officers and judicial representatives in enabling corruption.
He cited an instance where a senior police official dismissed the Commission’s actions, stating, “The property belongs to Ganduje, and you’re too small to seize it.”
“This is not about personalities. This is about anti-corruption. Regardless of your status, as far as you break the law, the law will go after you. In an egalitarian society, we are all supposed to be equal in the eyes of the law,” Magaji said.
He further disclosed how the police guarding the seized property were removed under dubious circumstances, leading to the deployment of civil defense officers.
“Three hours after we stationed civil defense personnel, I received a call that they had been ordered from Abuja to withdraw. I had no choice but to call on KAROTA to secure the property.”
Magaji shared how he faced threats, including an attempt to detain him on charges of abuse of power, mischief, and trespass. He questioned the motives behind such accusations:
“Can I even abuse power as the head of an agency empowered by law to act? If i do is it the appropriate way to go about it?.
“Someone asked me, ‘What do you stand to lose if you allow them to take the property?’ This fight is not about me; it’s about upholding the law,” he added.
Strategic regulators and other stakeholders have expressed satisfaction with the pace, quality and magnitude of work carried out by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Ogoniland, in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
In their separate speeches at the 2025 4th quarter key regulators / asset owners meeting held in Port Harcourt, the strategic stakeholders commended HYPREP for the significant milestones achieved with excellent efficiency and transparency, demonstrating capacity and commitment to sustaining collaboration with development partners for the overall success of the Project.
The regulators particularly lauded HYPREP for the landmark success in the implementation of the land and shoreline remediation, mangrove restoration, provision of reticulated potable water, the various sustainable livelihood programmes, donation of ambulances to health facilities in Ogoni, the construction of Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, as well as the ongoing Ogoni Power Project, adding that their independent field reports have shown proofs of HYPREP driving even beyond its mandates.
The goodwill messages were made by representatives of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Centre for Environment and Human Rights Development (CEHRD), Society for Women and Youths Affairs (SWAYA), Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN), Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC), and Federal Ministry of Environment. Others are the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, the Rivers State Ministry of Health, the National Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Rivers State Ministry of Power, the Rivers State University, the Rivers State Ministry of Water and Rural Development, and Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.
Following the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit’s presentation on the status of HYPREP projects, participants offered feedback on areas of concern. They reassured HYPREP and the people of Ogoni of their continued support for the Project’s success. They also suggested that the quarterly review meeting be sustained as it enables them to report, evaluate and proffer solutions to areas of concern.
Participants also commended HYPREP for improved community and stakeholder engagement and for adding to what they saw the previous time. “We commend HYPREP for the quality work done at sites. The progress is phenomenal, because HYPREP is scoring good grades, above average,” Prof. Iyenemi Kakulu from Rivers State University said.
In his speech at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who was represented by Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi, Director of Technical Services, commended the regulators and asset owners for their cooperation with the Project, and for making themselves available for fieldwork and the regular review meetings.
Prof Zabbey reiterated HYPREP’s commitment to best practice in waste management, particularly waste generation and disposal, calling on the Regulators for adequate logistics support, saying HYPREP’s priority is to focus on the core recommendations by UNEP, especially, remediation(soil, shoreline) mangrove restoration, provision of potable water, interventions in public health care services and sustainable livelihood for the people.
The Project Coordinator further highlighted the status of the Project, the successes achieved across all thematic areas, and assured that HYPREP will soon complete most of the ongoing projects and roll out others. He explained that the purpose of the meeting was to review the progress of the Ogoni cleanup, ensure quality control, and foster effective collaboration.
Consequently, the quarterly key regulators/asset owners meeting is HYPREP’s strategic stakeholder management model, further underscoring the Project’s commitment to transparency, partnership for development, and accountability, all of which are harbingers of effective project delivery.
Speaking to newsmen, HYPREP Project Support Lead and representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Engr Ehioze Igbinomwanhia, described his involvement with HYPREPas an encouraging and insightful experience, saying, the Project is implementing a wide range of projects across Ogoniland, spanning immediate remediation works as well as livelihood support initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of affected communities.
Engr Igbinomwanhia emphasised that Renaissance Africa Energy remains fully committed to supporting the objectives of the Ogoni cleanup project, noting that the company has a long history of collaboration with HYPREP.
He added that the partnership has been characterised by continuous learning, adaptation and a willingness to respond to observations and recommendations aimed at improving outcomes.
He further emphasised the importance of safety in all project operations, particularly given the challenging terrain and operating conditions in Ogoniland.
He noted that safety is treated as a critical priority and that contractors are continually reminded to maintain high safety standards, stressing that lessons learnt from previous operational challenges like the collapse of the water tank in Gwara Community are being applied to strengthen safety practices and overall performance.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
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