KANO STATE DRAGS FORMER KASCO MANAGING DIRECTOR 4 THERE’S TI COURT OVER 4 BILLION NAIRA FEAUD
By Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission (PCACC) has dragged a former Managing Director of Kano State Agricultural Supply Company Ltd. (KASCO) , Bala Inuwa Mohammed and four others to court over diversion of over N4 billion Grant from the state government to the Company, into private accounts.
Others Respondents in the 10-coint charge are Bala Inuwa Muhammad; Mrs Halima Bala Inuwa; Najib Lawan Muhammad; Incorporated Trustees of Association of Compassionate Friends
The Respondents facing trial on criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation and making false statements (and) or return contrary to the Penal Code and Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission laws of Kano State, would be arranged by a Kano High Court on Monday.
The 10-count charges were preferred under Sections 121 (1), 123 (1)(a), and 126 (b) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (2019).
PCACC would be presenting five witnesses; charge sheet; list of witnesses and their statements; summary of statements of witnesses; he summary of evidence; copies of the statements of the Defendant (s) and other exhibits, while preferring the case against the Defendants.
The Application dated August 3, 2023 and signed by Assistant Director, Kano State Ministry of Justice, Salisu M. Tahir (ESQ) and Principal State Counsel, Kano State Ministry of Justice, Zaharaddeen H. K/Mata (ESQ).
The Applicatrion stated that the : “Sometime in the month of August, 2022 to 3rd April, 2023 or thereabout the sum of N4,67,290,742.00 (Four Billion, Sixty Seven Million, Seven Hundred And Forty Two Naira) only were credited into Kano State Agricultural Supply Company Ltd’s ( KASCO) Account No. 1014477161 domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc and Unity Bank Account No. 0005195864 from Kano State Federal Allocation Account No. 4968083012 domiciled in FCMB within Kano Judicial Division all in the name of grant, but you dishonestly misappropriated and converted the whole sum belonging to Kano State Government meant for grant to the State owned Company (KASCO) to other accounts including your personal accounts, you thereby committed an offence under section 308 punishable under section 309 of the Penal Code Law.”
The Application further stated that the First Defendant, Bala Inuwa Muhammed, a former Managing Director of KASCO, unlawfully transferred the sum N20,000.000.00 into the personal account of one Mr. Mu’azu Shehu Ahmad domicile in FCMB with Account No. 9227966015 from the KASCO Account No. 1014477161 domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc within Kano Judicial Division.
He was also accused of dishonestly misappropriated and converted the said sum belonging to Kano State Government meant for grant to State owned Company, thereby committed an offence under Section 308 of the Penal Code punishable under section 309 of the Penal Code Law.
Bala Inuwa Muhammed, a former Managing Director of KASCO was also accused of unlawfully diverted and transferred the sum of N78, 605,000:00k to one Abubakar Sahabo Bawuro through account of a business name STL Enterprises with account number 7085982019 domicile in FCMB under the false pretence of supplying 190065.125 unit of Dolomite material which is not meant to be and was never supplied;and thereafter made false return with goods received note No.2659.
“You thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 26 of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Law 2008 (as amended),” it added.
“That you, Bala Inuwa Muhammed, male, adult being a former Managing Director of Kano State Agricultural Supply Company Ltd. (KASCO) unlawfully transferred the sum of N30,000.000.00 (Thirty Million Naira) only into the cooperate Account of incorporated trustees of Ganduje Foundation domicile in FCMB with Account No. 1176213017 within Kano Judicial Division you dishonestly misappropriated and converted the said sum belonging to Kano State Government meant for Subsidy on Fertilizer.
“You thereby committed an offence under section 308 punishable under section 309 of the Penal Code Law
“That you, Bala Inuwa Muhammed, male, adult being a former Managing Director of Kano State Agricultural Supply Company Ltd. (KASCO) and a Founder of Incorporated Trustees of Association of Compassionate Friends (5th Defendants) transaction.
” You thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under section 26 of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Law 2008 (as amended),” the Application stated.