Alleged Corruption: Anti-graft agency recovers money from Kano TV station boss, management staff

By Muhammed Yakubu On May 1, 2024

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Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission’s ongoing investigation at the state-owned Abubakar Rimi Television Station has unravelled systemic and coordinated corruption activities in the organisation.

SolaceBase had reported that the state antigraft agency is investigating alleged financial impropriety running into over N100m levelled against the managing director, Alhaji Mustapha Adamu Indabawa by the joint union of NUJ and RATTAWU chapels of the organisation.

The investigation followed the petition addressed to the governor by the two unions of the station.

A copy of the petition sighted by SolaceBase read,’’ Our grievances highlight the issues of diesel theft that linger for a long time and for a self-acclaimed award of contract of digitisation at the station, amounting to a staggering 60 million Naira. This contract award contravenes the Kano State Procurement Law 2022 (as amended). This unjustified expenditure not only signifies a blatant misuse of public funds but also raises serious questions about the integrity of the decision-making process within the corporation which the attention of the government needs to be brought to the limelight. It has been noted that the contract award violated the state procurement law and due process as it was singlehandedly awarded by the Managing Director without any specification.’’

‘’Furthermore, the broad daylight disappearance of three million Naira UNICEF airtime payment to the corporation is deeply troubling and demands urgent investigation. Such acts of financial impropriety not only undermine the credibility of the media station but also compromise the ability of the station to fulfil its mandate to the people and the government of Kano State.’’

‘’Moreover, the inappropriate management/staff relations has created a toxic working environment, destroying staff productivity and morale. This, coupled with the misappropriation of television revenue for self-enrichment, to the tune of 90 million Naira, is indicative of a systemic failure in governance and accountability.’’

Credible sources at the commission told SolaceBase on Wednesday that apart from the Managing Director, Alhaji Mustapha Adamu Indabawa , some other management staff have started returning monies allegedly withdrawn fraudulently from the organisation.

‘’Presently we have been able to recover a little above N3.5m from some of the staff while the managing director allegedly returned close to N100,000 claiming that he does not have the alleged misappropriated fund again but he is willing to submit his exotic car or sell same to return the money, ‘’ the source told SolaceBase.

‘’In line with our investigation, our chairman has directed that the office of the chief executive officer be locked so as for documents not to be tampered with.’’

SolaceBase gathered that whenever the television station gets a commercial or advertisement revenue, apart from the company or individual that brought same accorded the 10 percent commission, some of the management staff also take as much as 20 percent commission called ‘’canvasser’’.

‘’The ongoing investigation has revealed that the television station generates a lot of unaccounted revenue.’’

‘’Similarly, so many redundant staff have been discovered in the organisation.’’

According to our source, the antigraft agency boss has recommended to the state head of service to appoint a supervisory officer for the television station.

I believe any moment from now our chairman will soon submit the findings and recommendations to the governor.’’