Kano State Government may place the Emir of Kano, Alhaji
Muhammadu Sanusi II, on suspension to give way for “proper
investigation” of the emirate council’s finances. The idea of the suspension was reportedly promoted by politicians
and elders from within and outside the state close to Governor
Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
It was gathered that some prominent northern leaders were
putting pressure on Ganduje to depose the monarch following the latter’s
recent outburst.
Recall that Sanusi recently cried out that some Northern elites do not like him and that they were after him, over his critical comments against the North.
Sanusi was installed by Ganduje’s predecessor, Rabiu Kwankwaso who are both not in good terms at the moment.
The two fell out less than a year after Ganduje succeeded his former principal.
A source close to Kano heavyweights told our correspondent Tuesday
morning that “Ganduje may be favourably disposed to the suspension idea
because Kwankwaso was the one who helped Sanusi become Emir.
“You will recall that the ruling PDP was then rooting for Bayero and
even rushed to issue a statement congratulating him before announcement.
“So, it was Kwankwaso, who rallied round and used his power as governor to crush Kano and Abuja forces.
“Now that Kwankwaso who installed Sanusi and Ganduje are sworn
enemies, the Governor may decide to spite the Senator by showing he is
in charge.
“Let me add that this probe issue would never have come up in the
first place if Kwankwaso and Ganduje were still best of friends”.
Already, the Kano state Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Agency
(KSPCACA) is set to investigate the Muhammadu Sanusi-led emirate council
over an alleged misappropriation of billions of naira supposedly left behind by his predecessor, the late Alhaji Ado Bayero.
According to letter of summons signed by the agency’s Director of
Operations, Sulaiman Gusau, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), and
written to Sanusi, the agency is to probe activities in the emirate
since 2015 when the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor
ascended the throne.
Sanusi, however, denied the allegation, insisting that he has only spent less than N3billion since his installation.
The probe followed a petition written to the commission after an
online newspaper, Daily Nigerian, had published details of transactions
on the emirate’s bank accounts, alleging that the emir had frittered
away over N4bn he met in the accounts to finance a flamboyant lifestyle.
The publication, which quoted copiously from transactions on the
council’s accounts, alleged that most of the money was used to pay for
luxury cars, chattered flights, internet and phone bills, among others.
Meanwhile, there are speculations in Kano that the state anti-graft
agency may explore its working relation with the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) after preliminary investigation.