N20Bn Land Scam: Kano anti-corruption agency arrests high court registrar, ex-deputy Sheriff, lawyers, others

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has arrested a serving High Court registrar, retired deputy Sheriff, three Lawyers and 10 others among them security agents and a bailiff over their alleged involvement in a land scam of over N20bn.

SolaceBase reports that the PCACC chairman, Muhuyi Magaji Rimin-Gado, made this known on Thursday during a press conference held at the commission’s headquarters in Kano.

The Commission Chairman highlighted the alarming rate of land grabbing in Kano, stating that the illegal activities were being aided as organized crime.

Read Also:Katsina spends N1.8b on foodstuffs as against N390m on rural water supply agency capital expenditure

“We have uncovered a syndicate of criminals that specialize in grabbing public land. What is so painful is the connivance of some lawyers, court clerks, land registry officials, and even security agents in compromising the system,” he stated.

The chairman explained that the cases got exposed after a Kano High Court ordered the arrest and investigation of a key suspect, Suleman Ali.

 “The court had been overwhelmed with complaints about these fraudulent activities. However, the arrest was only successful after the intervention of this commission—three years later,” he noted.

According to the commission, over 15 suspects have been arrested, including three lawyers and four officials from the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning. Some of the arrested individuals are in the commission custody following court remand orders, while others have been released on bail.

The chairman further revealed that the syndicate had engaged in forging government documents, obtaining fraudulent court judgments, and using these judgments to seize public and private properties.

During the press conference, the commission displayed exhibits recovered from the suspects, including falsified letters of land grants, fake fire service reports, and a large sum of cash. “This money, over two million naira, was offered as a bribe to a DSS operative by a suspect in exchange for his freedom,” he disclosed, commending the integrity of the officer who refused the bribe.

The commission also revealed a case where a High Court registrar facilitated fraudulent transactions by certifying forged documents.

“We approached the High Court and drew the attention of the Honorable Chief Judge to this matter. Without delay, the Judicial Service Commission directed the implicated officers to report to our commission. This swift action demonstrates that the judiciary has nothing to hide,” the chairman affirmed.

In one shocking instance, a deceased individual was fraudulently presented as alive to facilitate the unlawful acquisition of a property valued at billions of naira.

 “The same person who offered a bribe to our operative also tried to bribe the court bailiff to falsely confirm service of documents to a man who died over ten years,” the chairman revealed.

“This is a very sophisticated criminal network that we have succeeded in exposing. We are determined to pursue the case to its logical conclusion,” the chairman vowed.

The Commission commended the Kano High Court under the leadership of Honorable Justice Dije Abdu Aboki for supporting the investigation by granting search and arrest warrants and ensuring transparency in the judicial process.

“If bribery could stop this investigation, it would have been stopped long ago. But with the backing of the judiciary and the Executive Governor of Kano State, we are resolute in our mission to bring the culprits to justice,” the chairman concluded.

The investigation remains ongoing as the commission continues to uncover more details of the fraudulent network, warning that no individual, regardless of position, will be spared in the fight against corruption.