The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested five persons, including Mohammed Kabawa, permanent secretary, Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, over an alleged multi-billion naira drugs supply scam.

Also arrested by the commission was the chairman of the state branch of the Association for Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Abdullahi Bashir, who is also the chairman of the Tauroni Local Government Area (LGA).

Similarly, the anti-graft agency arrested the managing director of Novomed Pharmaceuticals, Garba Kwankwaso, the nephew of the NNPP national leader, Rabi’u Kwankwaso, in connection with the alleged scam.

The suspects were accused of connivance to award a contract to Novomed for the supply of drugs to 38 LGAs in the state, thus violating public procurement laws.

Preliminary investigations revealed that each of the 38 LGAs paid N9.150 million to Novomed for the procurement of drugs, but the drugs were not supplied.

“We have 44 LGAs in the state, and they succeeded in collecting N9.150 from 38 councils for the supply of the drugs that were not supplied.

“The findings also revealed that all the suspects are cooperating with the commission’s investigation team”, a source close to the case told journalists.

The commission’s public relations office, Kabiru Kabiru, confirmed the arrests, adding that the investigation was ongoing.

Mr Kabiru said the commission was working to unravel the full extent of the alleged scam and bring those responsible to justice.

He also confirmed that the suspects were in the commission’s custody at the time of filing this report.

(NAN)