‘Foreign Scholarship Fraud’: Kano anti-graft commission discovers 35 bank accounts allegedly operated by ex-commissioner

The Kano State Anti-Corruption and Public Complaints Commission has discovered 35 bank accounts belonging to the former commissioner for Higher Education, Dr Yusuf Kofar Mata, in its ongoing investigation into an alleged fraud in the state’s foreign scholarship scheme.

SolaceBase had reported that in 2024, some senior officials of the state’s Ministry of Higher Education were quizzed over the release of huge funds under the scheme without the approval of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf

It was gathered that after the governor ordered the investigation, over N700 million were refunded to the government

The governor in September 2024, approved N4.6 billion for the award of scholarships to 1,001 postgraduate students to study abroad.

The first batch of students later departed for universities in India, Kenya and Uganda.

However, the state’s anti-corruption agency discovered that only 418 students were sent abroad, despite the release of a substantial part of the budget for the program.

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SolaceBase was informed then that the ongoing investigation would unmask those involved in the alleged scam and ensure they are brought to justice.

It was gathered that preliminary investigations revealed fraudulent activities at the ministry concerning the scheme for studies in India and Uganda.

Meanwhile, this newspaper was reliably informed on Wednesday that findings in the ongoing investigation revealed that the former Commissioner for Kano State Ministry of Higher Education, Dr Yusuf Ibrahim Kofar Mata, allegedly operates 35 bank accounts.

The former commissioner was reportedly the sole signatory to a corporate bank account belonging to Crescent Coast Consult and Investment Ltd, the company incorporated in April, 2019, with registered office at number 24, Kofar Mata quarters, Kano Municipal local government area, was said to be directly involved in Visa processing and purchase of air tickets for Kano State foreign scholarship beneficiaries.

The source told SolaceBase that this company made payments for visa processing and purchase of air tickets worth millions of Naira, an indication that the former Commissioner’s personal company was directly involved while he was serving as Commissioner of the Ministry, which shows a clear case of conflict of interest.

When contacted, the former commissioner for Higher Education, Dr Yusuf Kofar Mata, denied ownership of the 35 bank accounts discovered being operated by him.

‘’You see, all these issues are because I refused to join the APC, he told SolaceBase.

When reminded that the investigation into the foreign scholarship scheme has been on for over a year, Kofa Mata insisted that he did nothing wrong during the process.

He said the company mentioned was also not involved in the visa and air tickets of the students, despite the evidence at the disposal of this newspaper.

Also, SolaceBase contacted Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Spokesman, Isah Mansur Bello, over the issue, confirming that it is true that the anti-graft body discovered multiple bank accounts operated by the former commissioner, Dr Yusuf Kofa Mata.

When asked about other discoveries in the students’ foreign scholarship scheme, Bello declined further comment, noting that investigation is ongoing on the issue.