By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, the Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), has been released on bail following his detention by the police for several hours on Friday.
Rimingado, who was arrested by a special team from the office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), was granted bail on self-recognition late Friday night after being questioned at the Zone One Police Headquarters in Kano. According to his lawyer, Usman Umar Fari, Rimingado was released after about three hours of interrogation and has been instructed to report to the IGP’s office in Abuja on Monday for further questioning.
Sources suggest that Rimingado’s arrest may be connected to a major corruption case involving the former Managing Director of the Kano Agricultural Supply Company Limited (KASCO), Bala Muhammed Inuwa. Inuwa is accused of embezzling over N4 billion in public funds. His trial, which began in November 2023 at the Kano High Court, has led to the seizure of several properties, including bank funds, pending the court’s decision.
In December 2023, Inuwa sought the removal of police officers stationed at Limestone Processing Links Ltd., where the seized assets were being held. The request was granted by Justice Aisha Ya’u of another Kano High Court, prompting the PCACC to challenge the order. The commission argued that it should have been involved in the case as it is the primary authority for overseeing the confiscated assets.
The PCACC maintains that the seized properties, valued at over N2 billion, were transferred to a government warehouse in Nasarawa GRA, in line with the Kano Anti-Corruption Law, which allows the commission to secure assets during investigations.
Two weeks ago, Rimingado disclosed that the commission had thwarted an attempt to relocate the seized items, which included trailers, trucks, and minivans.
At the time of this report, attempts to contact Rimingado for comment on his arrest were unsuccessful.