Osinbajo, Saraki, Gandujes’ Intervention: Kano Assembly suspends Emir Sanusi’s investigation

Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi ll, who has been under investigation for alleged fraud and improper conduct, on Monday got a reprieve as the State House of Assembly suspended its investigation indefinitely on the request of Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Speaker of the House, Alhaji Kabiru Alhassan Rurum while making the disclosure, stated that the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, had also intervened on behalf of the emir.

Others who had put in a word to save the emir were two former Nigerian leaders, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar  as well as  Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Alhaji Aminu Dantata and national leaders of the ruling  APC.

According to Rurum, Governor Ganduje, in a letter to the Assembly pleaded with the lawmakers to suspend the probe indefinitely.

Rurum said the lawmakers reconvened from their break to deliberate on the letter and to finally stop the investigation.

“Governor Ganduje has explained everything to us and we are convinced that the emir deserved to be forgiven since he has accepted his mistakes and promised not to repeat them again.

“The governor told the house in the letter that based on the personal remorse by the emir and intervention of various personalities he is pleading with us to stop the investigation. 

“It is based on this that we have succumbed to his request and completely stopped our investigation.

“We stopped the investigation not because we don’t have the mandate to do it, but because we also want peace and harmony to continue in our dear state. Because we want the government, the emirate council and the house to continue to work peacefully,” he said.

He said 34 out of the 40 members of the house attended the sitting and they had all voted in support of stopping the investigation.

However, he said, a special ad-hoc committee had been set up to amend the Kano emirate council’s laws with a view to consolidating them. Some of the laws were enacted between 10 to 40 years without amendment.

He said the ad-hoc committee comprised house committees on the judiciary, legal and local government and chieftaincy affairs. Some principal officers will also participate in the assignment, he added.

The committee is headed by the House Majority Leader, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata and it has three months within which to complete its work and submit its report.

Recall that Emir Sanusi came under two separate investigations by House of Assembly and the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission.

The House investigation was launched following a motion by a member from Nassarawa local government, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmad Gama.

Following the motion, the state assembly constituted a 7-man ad-hoc committee headed by a member representing Warawa Local Government in Alhaji Labaran Abdul Madari to probe the eight-count charge leveled against the emir.

The offences include the emir’s accusation against Governor Ganduje and the state legislators of mismanaging the resources of the state while on a trip to China; his remarks on the proposed Kano light rail project and an alleged intentional attack on President Muhammadu Buhari.

Others were embezzlement of funds belonging to the emirate, tarnishing the image of the emirate by assigning his daughter to represent him at a public function, introducing strange religious issues and involvement in politics.

The Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission investigation preceded the House probe and it involved allegation of embezzlement of over N6bn Kano Emirate Council funds.

Responding to the suspension, Walin Kano and member of the Kano state Emirate Council, Alhaji Mahe Bashir Wali, described it as a welcome development and commended the lawmakers for their foresight regarding the matter.

“This is a welcome development. We have thanked the governor and the entire members of the Kano state house of assembly for being considerate in their decision. 

“The emir is in Kaduna attending a meeting summoned by the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, if I am able to get him, I will communicate to you and give detailed response, but if I am not then the council will give detailed response Tuesday”.

END