EFCC probes Kwankwaso over alleged N3bn campaign fund

There are indications that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), acting on a petition, may have commenced a probe of immediate past governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

The former governor is, at the moment, one of the Senators representing Kano State at the National Assembly.

The said probe is coming on the heels of a face-off between him and the incumbent governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje, over control of the political machinery of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC).

Read also: Kwankwaso, Ganduje rivalry: Police seal mass wedding venue

Ripples Nigeria gathered that the investigations centre around the campaign spending of Mr. Rabiu Kwankwaso who vied for the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.

Sources within EFCC allege that Kwankwaso may have abused his office by directing each of the 44 councils in the state to contribute the sum of N70 million, thereby amassing a ‘war’ chest of over N3 billion for his failed presidential bid.

The move is said to have angered state government officials who petitioned the EFCC after Kwankwaso left office in 2015 and also leaked vital documents on the alleged fund diversion to the anti-graft agency which promptly commenced investigations into the alleged abuse of office.

The stand-off between Kwankwaso and Ganduje in recent times has seen both try to influence the annual mass wedding project instituted by the former, leading to sealing of Kwankwaso’s private residence which was allegedly used to host a mass wedding exercise.

Abdullahi Ganduje had earlier in the year relieved Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, former Secretary to the State Government, and Mr. Danjuma Mahmud, former Accountant-General (both regarded as Kwankwaso’s boys) of their strategic portfolios.

In furtherance of the investigations, the EFCC is said to have detained and granted administrative bail to some local government chairmen in connection with the campaign fund.

Sources say the Chairman  of Fagge Local Government Area, Alhaji Habibu Saleh Mailemu and Ungogo Local Chairman, Saleh Aliyu are billed to appear before the Commission sometime this week.

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