The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has dragged a former managing director of Agricultural Supply Company Ltd. (KASCO), Bala Mohammed, and four others to court over the alleged diversion of over N4 billion in grants into private accounts.

Other respondents in the 10-count charge are Inuwa Mohammed, Halima Inuwa, Najib Muhammad, and the Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Compassionate Friends.

The respondents are facing trial on criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation, and making false statements or returns contrary to the Penal Code and PCACC laws of Kano State before the Kano High Court.

The 10-count charges were preferred under sections 121 (1), 123 (1)(a), and 126 (b) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (2019).

The PCACC said it would present five witnesses, a charge sheet, a list of witnesses and their statements, their summary and that of the evidence, copies of the statements of the defendant(s), and other exhibits before the court.

The application was dated August 3, 2023, and signed by the assistant director, Kano State Ministry of Justice, Salisu M. Tahir (ESQ), and principal state counsel, Kano State Ministry of Justice, Zaharaddeen H. K. Mata (ESQ).

The statement read in part that “Sometime in the month of August 2022, to April 3, 2023, or thereabout, the sum of N4,67,290,742.00 (Four billion, sixty-seven million, seven hundred and forty-two naira) only were credited into Kano State Agricultural Supply Company Ltd’s ( KASCO) Account No. 1014477161, domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc and Unity Bank Account No. 0005195864, from Kano State Federal Allocation Account No. 4968083012 domiciled in FCMB within Kano Judicial Division, all in the name of grant, but you dishonestly misappropriated and converted the whole sum belonging to Kano State Government meant for grant to the state-owned company (KASCO) to other accounts, including your personal accounts,

“You thereby committed an offence under section 308, punishable under section 309 of the Penal Code Law.”

The application further stated that the first defendant, Bala Inuwa Muhammed, a former managing director of KASCO, unlawfully transferred N20 million into the personal account of one Mu’azu Shehu Ahmad, domiciled in FCMB with Account No. 9227966015, from KASCO Account No. 1014477161, domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc, within Kano Judicial Division.

He was also accused of dishonestly misappropriating and converting the sum belonging to the Kano state government meant for a grant to KASCO, thereby committing an offence under section 308 of the Penal Code punishable under section 309 of the Penal Code Law.

Mr Muhammed was also accused of unlawfully diverting and transferring N78.605 million to one Abubakar Sahabo Bawuro through the account of a business name STL Enterprises with account number 7085982019, domiciled in FCMB under the false pretence of supplying 190065.125 units of Dolomite material, which was not meant to be and was never supplied, and thereafter making a false return with goods received note No. 2659.

“You thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Law 2008 (as amended),” it added.

“That you, Bala Inuwa Muhammed, male, adult, being a former Managing Director of Kano State Agricultural Supply Company Ltd. (KASCO) unlawfully transferred the sum of N30,000.000.00 (Thirty Million Naira) only into the corporate account of incorporated trustees of Ganduje Foundation domiciled in FCMB with Account No. 1176213017 within Kano Judicial Division, you dishonestly misappropriated and converted the said sum belonging to Kano State Government meant for subsidy on fertiliser.

“You thereby committed an offence under Section 308, punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code Law.

“That you, Bala Inuwa Muhammed, male, adult, being a former Managing Director of Kano State Agricultural Supply Company Ltd. (KASCO) and a Founder of the Incorporated Trustees of Association of Compassionate Friends (5th Defendants) transaction.

“You thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Law 2008 (as amended),” the application stated.

The first respondent was also accused of illegally transferring different amounts of money to the staff of KASCO, who were involved in the N4 billion grant racket, among other charges. 

(NAN)