Kano anti-corruption agency quizzes TV station boss over alleged misappropriation of funds

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission has quizzed the managing director of the state-owned television station, Abubakar Rimi Television, Alhaji Mustapha Adamu Indabawa.

SolaceBase gathered that the interrogation of the managing director by the state anti-graft agency on Friday was a sequel to a petition by the joint union of the station, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, and Radio Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) written to Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf over alleged misappropriation of funds close to N100m and abuse of office.

The petition was dated 26th April 2024.

Alhaji Mustapha Indabawa was appointed the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the station by the Kano state governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf few months ago.

A credible source at the commission told SolaceBase that the managing director was grilled by investigators on Friday over alleged misapproriation of over N60m and the said theft of N3m UNICEF airtime cash he claimed was stolen in his car.

‘’We discovered that there was an award of contract to the tune of about N68m that contravened the Kano state procurement law 2022 (as amended). There was no bidding and due process was not followed, ‘’the source told SolaceBase.

‘’Even for a work that has not been carried out, payment has been made.’’

“At this preliminary stage of investigation, we have been able to establish a prima facie against the Managing Director.’’

‘’It is surprising that at this age and time, the ARTV boss was alleged to have been dipping his hands into the coffers of the organisation and taking money directly from sales.’’

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‘’It was discovered that there are several cases of payment without documentation. For instance the film Village, most money collected are without a receipt and spending is done without recourse to due process.’’

‘’The Station Officer, Ibrahim Bello and the Director Administration and General Services, (DAGS) Ibrahim Hassan from our preliminary investigation are complicit in the saga.’’

According to the source, Indabawa’s younger brother who is not even a staff of the television station is among the people taking vital decision on financial activities at the organisation.

The anti-corruption operative told SolaceBase that one of the managing director’s offences is contrary to section 26 of the law establishing the antigraft agency which may earn him a minimum of 3 years in jail.

According to our source, he was released on bail late on Friday and asked to report back for further questioning.

When SolaceBase contacted the embattled managing director, Alhaji Mustapha Adamu Indabawa, on Saturday, he declined to comment, saying since the matter is before the antigraft agency, he would not want to say a word.

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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.’’

‘’In addition to financial irregularities, the management under the current leadership has failed to uphold professional standards, resulting in the total collapse of the television news and programme content in volume and quality. This has not only eroded the trust of the station’s viewers but has also tarnished the reputation of Abubakar Rimi Television as a reliable source of information and entertainment to the Kano people and beyond.’’

‘’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.’’