By Abba Dukawa
KANO: The Chairman of Kumbotso Local Government Council of Kano State Kabiru Ado Panshekara may be arraigned tomorrow over an alleged diversion of palliative materials meant for the poor of the poorest to associates, political loyalist, security agents and cronies.
The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission accused the council boss of distribution of the forms to be used to access the palliative materials meant for Kumbotso Local Government to party Local Government Exco, Police, DSS, Hisbah, Vigilante Group, District Head and Committee members whom all made the exemption list of the prospective beneficiaries.
The Commission then charged the Council Chairman before Magistrate Court No. 82 Rijiyar Zaki on 13th May, 2020 on a criminal breach of trust and making false statement which according to the Anti-Graft Agency contravened Section 318 of the Penal Code and Section 26 of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended).
However, the absence of the accused council boss during the trial on 13th May, 2020 necessitated the court to issue a bench warrant for his arrest and the sitting adjourned to 27th May, 2020. But in what appeared to be a twist, some judicial sources confirmed on the Prime Time News that there would be a recall hearing on the matter slated for tomorrow Monday 18th May, 2020 at the instance of one of the parties to the case.
It was not clear of who among the parties to the suit requested for the recall hearing but a source within the Anti-Corruption Agency confirmed the receipt of the hearing notice on Friday 15th May, 2020 and affirmed that they were ready for the case.
The source who spoke on condition of anonymity was of believe that the defendant was trying to avoid the humiliation of arrest and the only avenue was for him to submit to the due process of law. “From what we see we are in for legal technicalities to stall the process but we are ready for any eventuality”.the source said.
Efforts to contact the Council Chairman proved abortive.
