Kano magistrates court orders arrest of three senior emirate officials for failing to answer corruption charges

THREE of the Emir of Kano's assistants including his chief of staff Alhaji Mannir Sanusi have had bench warrants for their arrest issued against them by the Kano Chief Magistrates Court for failing to appear and answer charges of corruption.

Over recent weeks, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Lamido Sanusi Mohammed and Governor Abdullahi have been at loggerheads. Apparently, the governor is unhappy that the emir did not support his re-election bid, so is trying to carve his emirate into four and has also accused Alhaji Mohammed of misappropriating public funds.

As part of the fight against the emir, the Kano State government dragged three of his senior assistants to court. Those involved include  Alhaji Sanusi, the Damburan Kano Mujitaba Abba and the Accountant of Kano Emirate Council, Alhaji Sani Muhammad-Kwaru.

Yesterday, the court ordered the arrest of the three of them over their alleged refusal to honour the invitation to appear. The trio were sued before the court by the Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-corruption Commission for failing to honour its invitation in a N4bn fraud investigation against the Emir of Kano.

Chief Magistrate Mohammed Idris ordered the arrest of the palace officials after the commission wrote to the court seeking for an order of arrest against them. Salisu Tahir, counsel for the state government, said the request was based on the provision of Section 38 of the enabling law establishing the commission.

Initially, the commission had invited four people in connection to the allegation, of which only Isa Bayero, alias Isa Pilot, who was a former scribe to the Emirate Council, honoured the invitation. Muhiyi Magaji, the chairman of the commission, said the three persons are the principal suspects in the case, adding that they have already asked security operatives to enforce the order and arrest the officials.