March 02, (THEWILL) — The five commissioners who voluntarily resigned from the Kano State Executive Council have reacted to the recovery of their official vehicles by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, alleging intimidation and trespass on their homes.
The former commissioners alleged in a statement signed on their behalf by AVM Umar Ibrahim, (retd.), who spoke on behalf of his colleagues said that during the vehicles’ recovery, their homes were trespassed upon and their families intimidated.
He said, “Following our voluntary resignation as members of the State Executive Council shortly after the defection of Governor Yusuf to the All Progressive Congress (APC) in recent times, the office of the secretary to the state government formally dispatched letters to the affected commissioners to return vehicles given to them.
“Subsequently, the affected personalities responded, drawing the attention of the office on the provision of revised 2023 Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission Act which justified the provision of related vehicles and others to such category of political and public office holders.
He recalled that the former Commissioner of Transport who resigned earlier was granted such gesture and allowed to go with the vehicle freely.
“In order to ensure that the rule of law is fully complied to by all and sundry, including those in authority, we immediately filed a court process to stem the tide and restore rights and privileges validly guaranteed by the law of our land.
“This methodical approach obviously rattled the regime and made them go berserk trespassing our homes and intimidating our families evacuating other personal vehicles belonging to our spouses while away from home.
“Apparently, on the orders of the governor, our personal liberty and sanctity of our family members were grossly violated and disrespected. Such desperation of the government to embarrass and undermine the integrity of public officers who have diligently served the state and its people is obvious and therefore condemnable in all ramifications”, the former commissioners said.
They, however, said that they would continue to uphold the principles of rule of law and urged their supporters to remain calm.
AVM Ibrahim said that as law abiding citizens, they would continue to uphold the principles of rule of law and urge all our supporters to remain calm during this negative propaganda until judicial interpretation is secured.
After all, these vehicles, AVM, Ibrahim stated, were only provided to the beneficiaries four months ago prior to which they were utilising their personal vehicles in all official engagements to ensure the success of the regime for more than two years. This warrants for compensation due to depreciation of our personnel vehicles”, the statement added.
The Anti-Corruption Commission had effected the vehicles’ recovery, following the alleged continued refusal of the affected commissioners to return the government property.
The Chairman of the Commission, Sa’idu Yahaya, who led the operation, said the action became necessary after the former commissioners failed to comply with repeated official requests to return government assets.
The concerned former commissioners are Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Umar (retd); former Commissioner for Internal Security, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso; former Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dr Yusuf Ibrahim Kofar Mata; former Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr Adamu Aliyu Kibiya, former Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs; and Hon. Nasiru Sani Garo, former Commissioner for Special Projects.
Remarkably, the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission recovered some official vehicles from commissioners who recently voluntarily resigned from the State Executive Council.
The recovery exercise carried out by operatives of the commission on Thursday followed the alleged continued refusal of the affected commissioners to return the government property.
Briefing journalists shortly after the recovery exercise, the Chairman of the Commission, Sa’idu Yahaya, who led the operation, said the action became necessary after the former commissioners failed to comply with repeated official requests to return government assets.
Yahaya disclosed that the operation was prompted by formal complaints and notification from the Office of the Secretary to the Kano State Government, being the custodian of all government vehicles, regarding alleged abuse of office and the urgent need for the former officials to return all government property in their possession upon resignation.
The chairman further alleged that some of the commissioners were said to have sold the official vehicles shortly after leaving office.
“Government assets are not personal property. Once an official leaves office, all government vehicles and assets in their custody must be returned immediately,” he said , adding: “They were advised to return the vehicles to avoid a situation like this, but they refused, leaving us with no alternative but to take action. We followed due process and secured a court order, which was duly granted, to recover the vehicles.
“So far, we have recovered five vehicles from the five commissioners. However, only two of the vehicles recovered are the exact official vehicles purchased by the government. The other three are not the original vehicles.
“Investigation revealed that the official vehicles had been sold and replaced with other vehicles, which we also recovered. We will launch a full-scale investigation to determine whether the official vehicles were sold to procure these ones or otherwise”, Yahaya said.
The anti-corruption boss dismissed suggestions that the action was politically motivated, insisting that the commission’s intervention was strictly in line with its statutory responsibility to safeguard public property.
“This is not about witch-hunting anyone. It is about protecting the resources of the people of Kano State. We will not tolerate any form of misconduct or unlawful retention of government property”, he said.
He further warned that the commission would sustain surveillance on the use and custody of public assets, stressing that similar measures would be taken against any official found to be in breach of asset return regulations.
“Public trust depends on transparency and accountability. We are determined to strengthen both, and we will take appropriate action against anyone found mismanaging or unlawfully holding government property”, Yahaya added.
Meanwhile, a retired senior civil servant, Mohammad Tukur, clarified the administrative position on the matter, stating that no existing law permits a commissioner to retain an official vehicle after serving in the cabinet.
Tukur explained that government policy provides official vehicles to commissioners solely to enable them carry out their official duties.
“No law guarantees commissioners the right to keep government vehicles at the end of a successful tenure, whether they are sacked or resign from office”, he said.
He, however, noted that the governor reserves the executive power and discretion to permit any official to retain a vehicle after leaving office.
“Under administrative policy, what commissioners are entitled to upon leaving office are certain allowances, not official vehicles. Even then, any commissioner who is sacked or resigns from the cabinet may not be entitled to those severance packages”, the Senior Citizen further explained.
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
