18Billion Naira Stolen by Politicians and Civil Servants – Anti Corruption Commission

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has exposed an N18 billion theft involving politicians and civil servants in the state.

This was made known by Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado during an Anti-Corruption workshop for senior civil servants. He revealed that an astonishing 90% of ongoing corruption investigations involve civil servants, with procurement processes being a primary conduit for these illicit activities.

Chairman Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado voiced his concern over the pervasive corruption in the civil service, noting that civil servants are increasingly complicit in fraudulent activities. He pointed out that politicians often exploit these individuals to embezzle public funds, underscoring the urgency of addressing this systemic issue.

He stressed the pivotal role civil servants play in enabling corrupt practices, cautioning that their involvement in illegal activities can have grave repercussions, and emphasizing the urgent need for integrity and transparency within the civil service.

“The civil service is being exploited by politicians to violate the law,” Rimingado stated. “Our investigations reveal that civil servants are central to nearly all major corruption cases we’re examining in Kano. Procurement processes, in particular, are being used as a cover for these illicit activities.”

He also highlighted a specific case where local government cashiers were used by politicians to funnel public money through their personal accounts, which was then exchanged for foreign currency and returned to the politicians.

“The civil servants are being used by politicians against the law. All the ground corrupt practices the agency is investigating in Kano civil servants are the ingredients and tools in the hands of those elements who perpetrate the practice at the high level,” he said.

“Again, 90 percent of corruption cases are perpetrated through procurement services. When politicians want to steal they use procurement aas cover up. We also have a case where the politicians used local government cashiers personal accounts to siphon public funds. The cashiers volunteered to withdraw the monies, take to bureau De change and make returns.”

The workshop aimed to educate civil servants on Anti-Corruption laws, public procurement regulations, and financial management practices to help them navigate their responsibilities within the framework of the law.