The Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, who was arrested on Friday, has been granted bail by the Police.
Kano Times earlier reported the arrest of the anti-graft agency boss on Friday evening.
Sources revealed that Rimingado was detained at the Zone One Police headquarters in Kano for several hours, interrogated, and later released on conditional bail around 11 PM. He was, however, directed to appear at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Monday for further questioning.
The arrest is speculated to be linked to the ongoing trial of the former Managing Director of Kano Agricultural Supply Company Limited (KASCO), Bala Muhammed Inuwa, who is accused of misappropriating public funds exceeding N4 billion.
The trial, which commenced in November 2023 at the Kano High Court presided over by Justice Hafsat Yahaya, led to the confiscation of assets, including funds in bank accounts, pending the court’s verdict.
In December 2023, Bala Muhammed Inuwa filed a separate suit before Justice Aisha Ya’u of another Kano High Court, seeking the withdrawal of police officers stationed at Limestone Processing Links Ltd., where the seized properties were stored. Justice Ya’u granted the request.
The PCACC, however, raised concerns that it was not aware of the suit and was not included as a party to the case. The commission argued that, as the primary body responsible for the confiscated assets, it should have been involved in the proceedings rather than leaving the matter solely to the police.
In response, the commission filed a stay of execution on the order and sought to be joined in the suit. It emphasized that the police were merely safeguarding the assets, which remain under the PCACC’s authority.
During a recent press briefing, Rimingado disclosed that his commission had foiled an attempt to relocate the seized properties, valued at over N2 billion. These include trailers, trucks, and minivans, which were subsequently transferred to a state government warehouse in Nasarawa GRA.
He stated that the action was consistent with Section 40 of the Kano Anti-Corruption Law, which mandates the commission to secure confiscated properties pending the outcome of a case.
Rimingado’s arrest has sparked speculation about its motive, with many suggesting it is linked to the high-profile corruption case and the commission’s efforts to protect public assets.
At the time of filing this report, Rimingado could not be reached for comments regarding his arrest.
