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By Abdullahi Abubakar
Going by any unforeseen circumstances, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) will arraign the Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Professor Sani Lawan Malumfashi, and two top officials of the agency over an alleged N1 billion money laundering scandal on Monday, July 21, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
This is according to a press release issued by the ICPC on Friday.
Professor Malumfashi will be docked alongside the KANSIEC Secretary, Mr. Anas Muhammed Mustapha, and a Deputy Director in the Accounts Department, Mr. Ado Garba.
The Commission revealed that the three officials conspired between November and December 2024 to engage in large-scale illegal cash transactions in violation of financial regulations and anti-money laundering laws.
ICPC investigators uncovered that in November 2024 alone, KANSIEC under Professor Malumfashi transferred over N1.02 billion from its Unity Bank account to SLM Agro Global Farm — a company that reportedly had no contractual or operational ties with the electoral body.
While the suspects claimed the money was used to raise cash for paying ad hoc staff who worked during the local government elections, the Commission said this explanation could not stand up to scrutiny.
Further findings showed that the bank had, in fact, processed payments of N59.4 million directly to 510 ad hoc staff members through their individual bank accounts, contradicting the officials’ claim that bank transfers would be too slow.
“Their claim that the banking system or transfers would have been too slow… was found to be a mere conjecture, a screen to hide corruption and a lame excuse to justify the offence of money laundering,” the statement read.
Additionally, the ICPC noted discrepancies in the electoral budget. Although N20 million was allocated for screening and verification of candidates across Kano’s 44 local government areas and 484 wards, investigations revealed that the process took place entirely at the KANSIEC headquarters in Kano. Candidates reportedly bore the cost of transportation to the venue, while the officials involved allegedly pocketed the funds meant for field operations.
The Commission stated that the budget document was also misleadingly titled “Operation Budget 2025 Elections,” although it pertained to the 2024 exercise.
The defendants will appear before the court on Monday to face multiple charges related to conspiracy, abuse of office, and money laundering.
