A Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Kano, on Tuesday, ordered the remand of a former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructural, Engr. Idris Wada Saleh in the custody of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti Corruption Commission over alleged N1 billion fraud.
The defendant, a former Commissioner to Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, is standing trial on a two-count charge bordering on false information and return and cheating.
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The Prosecutor, Mr Salisu Tahir, Assistant Director PCACC, told the court that the defendant was arrested on July 3, at about 2:30 p.m.
He alleged that sometimes in 2023 the defendant released the sum of N1 billion to Arafat construction company, No stone construction company and Multi resources to rehabilitate 30 roads in the metropolis that was not carried out.
Tahir filed an exparte pursuant to section 295(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2019 urging the court to remand the defendant at PCACC custody for 14 days to enable them complete investigation.
“The defendant has case to answer of N1 billion belonging to Kano State government.
“The exparte application is supported by seven paragraph deposed by one Insp. Sa’id Ilu, attached with six voucher exhibits”
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He urged the court to grant the application to enable the agency file a proper charge against the defendant in the interest of Justice and public out cry.
The defendant,pleaded not guilty to the charge.
According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened the provision of section 26 of PCACC 2010 as amended and section 322 of the Penal Code.
The defense counsel, Mr Mustapha Idris, urged the court to grant the defendant bail pursuant to section 35(6) and 36(5) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
“The defendant is presumed innocent and the offence is bailable pursuant to Section 168 and 172 of ACJL Kano State 2019 and order 5 rule 1 and 3 of ACJL rules 2023”
Chief Magistrate Tijjani Sale-Minjibir, ordered the remand of the defendant in PCACC custody for 12 days and ordered to be put under good condition.
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He adjourned the matter until July 14, for ruling on bail application.
Daily Telescope reports that the former commissioner and 5 others were arrested by the commission over alleged misappropriation of over N1bn public fund a month to the transition of government.
