Court Remands Kano Electoral Commission Chairman, Three Others In Prison Over Alleged N1.02bn Fraud

Abuja, Nigeria– A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of the Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Professor Sani Malumfashi, alongside three other senior officials of the commission, over their alleged involvement in a N1.02 billion fraud.

The trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, directed that Professor Malumfashi be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre after he was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, money laundering and diversion of public funds.

Also remanded by the court were the Secretary of KANSIEC, Anas Muhammed Mustapha, and the Deputy Director of Accounts, Ado Garba.

The three officials were arraigned together on the charges preferred against them by the anti-graft agency.

According to the ICPC, the defendants allegedly siphoned funds belonging to the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission through the use of bank accounts linked to a private entity identified as SLM Agro Global Farm.

In count one of the charge, the prosecution alleged that the defendants, between November and December 2024, within Kano State, conspired among themselves to unlawfully take possession of the sum of N450 million in cash.

The funds were allegedly withdrawn through two bank accounts belonging to SLM Agro Global Farm, both domiciled at Jaiz Bank.

The ICPC further told the court that within the same period, the defendants allegedly diverted an additional N310 million and N260 million into account numbers 0018222634 and 0015932143, respectively, also domiciled at Jaiz Bank and belonging to the said farm.

The commission maintained that the alleged acts amounted to money laundering and were contrary to Sections 2(1)(b) and 18(2)(d), and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

When the charges were read to them in open court, Professor Malumfashi and the other defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts and urged the court to grant them bail pending the determination of the case.

Counsel to the defendants, Mr. Mahmud Magaji, SAN, told the court that his clients had earlier been granted administrative bail by the ICPC and had faithfully complied with all the conditions attached to it.

“My lord, the defendants have never violated any of the terms of the administrative bail granted to them,” Magaji, SAN, submitted.

He urged the court to grant his clients bail, noting that he had only recently been briefed to take over the conduct of the matter.

However, the prosecution counsel, Dr. Osuobeni Akponimisingha, while addressing the court, said he opposed the oral bail application, but added that he would leave the decision entirely to the discretion of the court.

In a brief ruling, Justice Omotosho declined to grant bail orally and directed the defendants to file a formal bail application to enable the prosecution respond appropriately.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter till Wednesday for further proceedings.

Pending the hearing and determination of the bail application, Justice Omotosho ordered that Professor Malumfashi and the other defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.