4th July, 2023
By Ramatu Garba
A Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday ordered that former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Idris Wada-Saleh, be remanded in Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) custody for fraud.
The defendant, a former Commissioner to Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, is accused of providing false information and cheating to the tune of N1 billion.
Chief Magistrate Tijjani Sale-Minjibir remanded the defendant in PCACC detention for 12 days pending a decision on his bail application.
The magistrate postponed the case until July 14.
Earlier, Mr. Salisu Tahir, Assistant Director PCACC, informed the court that the defendant was apprehended on July 3 about 2:30 p.m.
He said that the defendant gave N1 billion to Arafat Construction Company, No Stone Construction Company, and Multi Resources to reconstruct 30 roads in the metropolis, which were never completed.
Tahir submitted an ex parte petition under Section 295(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2019, requesting that the defendant be remanded in PCACC custody for 14 days to allow them to conclude the investigation.
“The defendant has a case to answer in the N1 billion belonging to the Kano State government.
“The exparte application is supported by seven paragraph deposed by one Insp Sa’id Ilu, attached with six voucher exhibits”
He urged the court to grant the application to enable the agency file a proper charge against the defendant in the interest of justice.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
According to the prosecutor,the offence contravened the provisions of Section 26 of PCACC 2010 as amended and Section 322 of the Penal Code.
The defense counsel, Mr Mustapha Idris, prayed the court to grant the defendant bail pursuant to section 35(6) and 36(5) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
“The defendant is presumed innocent and the offence is bailable pursuant to Section 168 and 172 of ACJL Kano State 2019 and order 5 rule 1 and 3 of ACJL rules 2023”.
NAN