Northern Nigerian Breaking News

”The 16,800 palliative rice allegedly diverted belong to philanthropist not FG”-Kano antigraft boss

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has revealed that the 16,800 bags of rice recently discovered in a warehouse at Hotoro Western bypass in Kano, were not federal government palliatives but privately owned by a philanthropist.

The Chairman, Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, Barr. Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado on Friday at a news conference said that the individual, who financed the rice distribution with personal funds, deliberately used bags branded with the picture of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen his relationship.

Magaji explained that fresh findings have led the Commission to conclude that the rice in question belongs to a private individual, not the Federal Government or the general public.

“The Commission has determined that the rice is owned by an individual. Since the Federal Government has not laid claim to the consignment, we are left with no choice but to withdraw from this case,” he stated.

SolaceBase recalls that controversy began when reports surfaced that sacks of rice bearing President Bola Tinubu’s picture and the inscription “not for sale” were being rebagged into generic sacks, allegedly to be sold in the open market.

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Despite this, Mr Magaji confirmed that the Commission’s scope of authority had reached its limit after the new ownership claims were substantiated.

“It is true that the rebagging was done using sacks with the President’s picture and the words ‘not for sale,’ but as an anti-graft agency, we cannot proceed further now that an individual has provided proof of ownership and no official complaint has come from the Federal Government,” he clarified.

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In line with Section 15(3) of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended), the Commission has collaborated with other security agencies for further investigation. 

“Now that it is established the goods are private property, the Commission has approached the court with the new findings for necessary legal action. This press conference aims to clarify the situation to the public,” Rimingado added.

Magaji emphasised the Commission’s commitment to transparency and accountability but noted that it would not act beyond its mandate. “Our duty is to investigate and prosecute cases within our jurisdiction. Without any federal claim over the rice, we are legally restrained from pursuing this matter further,” he said.

The antigraft chairman noted that the rebagging at the warehouse from the sack with the picture of the president to a another sack with the motive of selling at the open market by those carrying out the act , but the commission cannot do otherwise as the owner has not reported that officially.

‘’Our findings with other sister agencies revealed that the rice belong to a philanthropist and not the federal, state or local governments. With this we cannot do other wise than to hands off the issue.

If the philanthropist now complaint to us over the rebagging which is not what he instructed then we can take action.’’

‘’We discovered that the rice were brought into Kano from Bauchi and Zamfara and were for personal distribution.’’

SolaceBase gathered that the apart from the 28 trucks of the rice that are in the sealed warehouse presently, the philanthropist still has about 40 trucks been awaited.

 

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