Ex-Ganduje Commissioner Detained Over N1 Billion Road Contract Scam
A Chief Magistrates Court in Kano State has ordered the remand of Idris Wada-Saleh, a former commissioner for works and infrastructure under ex-governor Abdullahi Ganduje, over allegations of fraud.
Wada-Saleh was accused of providing false information and cheating the state government of N1 billion meant for road projects, PM News reported.
The court, presided over by Chief Magistrate Tijjani Sale-Minjibir, ruled on Tuesday, July 4, that Wada-Saleh should remain in the custody of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) for 12 days, pending the determination of his bail application. The court adjourned the case till July 14 for further hearing.
The PCACC had arrested Wada-Saleh on Monday, July 3, and arraigned him before the court on a two-count charge of providing false information and cheating.
The PCACC’s assistant director, Salisu Tahir, told the court that Wada-Saleh awarded N1 billion to three construction companies – Arafat Construction Company, No Stone Construction Company, and Multi Resources – to reconstruct 30 roads in the Kano metropolis, but the projects were never completed.
Tahir said that Wada-Saleh violated Section 26 of PCACC 2010 as amended and Section 322 of the Penal Code.
He applied for an ex parte petition under Section 295(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2019, seeking the court’s permission to detain Wada-Saleh for 14 days to enable the PCACC to conclude its investigation.
He said that the petition was supported by a sworn statement by an inspector and six voucher exhibits.
He urged the court to grant the application in the interest of justice. Wada-Saleh pleaded not guilty to the charge.
His defence counsel, Mustapha Idris, prayed the court to grant him bail based on Section 35(6) and 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. He said that Wada-Saleh was presumed innocent and that the offence was bailable according to Section 168 and 172 of ACJL Kano State 2019 and order 5 rule 1 and 3 of ACJL rules 2023.
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