Headlines
Businessman claims ownership of property sealed off by EFCC in Kano
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
A businessman based in Kano, Alhaji Tanimu Inusa, has claimed ownership of the property sealed off by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Kano state.
KANO FOCUS reports that operatives of the anti-graft agency earlier in the week sealed off over 20 choice properties in Kano, allegedly linked to Brigadier-General Jafaru Mohammed, the Director of Finance and Admin in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Counsel to the businessman, Sagir Gezawa, said the properties belong to his client, and that he acquired them long before recent transactions allegedly linked to Bri,-Gen. Mohammed.
He said some of the sealed properties have also been sold off by the businessman years back.
The lawyer said there was no court order directing seizure of properties as they were never subjects of any litigation.
“Alhaji Tanimu is a businessman who earlier engaged in the business of commodity and general provisions at the famous Singer Market in Kano before he ventured into property development business which he formalized by registering Tasaf General Merchandise Ltd in January 2009.
”He has been running such business successfully and established a very good reputation in that regard, especially in Kano, both in his personal name and the name of the company to the extent that he can actually lose count on the number of properties he developed and sold as well as layouts he developed from large farmlands into plots.
”It was while he was at one of the properties, he was developing in Kano along Gidado Road on Friday the 3rd day of April 2020 when operatives of the EFCC stormed the premises with armed policemen and arrested him.
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He was taken to the Kano Zonal Office of the commission and was later detained
”The following morning being Saturday the 4th day of April 2020, Alhaji Tanimu was taken almost round Kano State the whole day where his residence and office were both searched and some properties belonging to a company called Atlasfield Integrated Limited were also visited.
“Even though, up to that moment nobody informed him precisely what his offence was but according to him, he was asked several questions about the acquisition of certain properties made by Atlasfield Integrated Limited and his relationship with the company. It was in that respect that he has so far made several statements to the Commission both while in detention and even after he was released on bail, but all the questions revolved around his relationship with Atlasfield.
“Alhaji Tanimu informed officers of the EFCC about his relationship with one General Aminu Kano Maude who is now late whom he met about 4 years ago as a result of certain properties he purchased from him or through him as an agent,” Mr Gezawa said.
The lawyer also said all the over 20 properties marked in Kano on Tuesday were owned by Mr Inusa.
“The titles of all the properties either bears his name Tanimu Abdullahi or his company Tasaf General Merchandise Ltd.
“The company was registered in January 2009 and it has been in business since then, while Atlasfield Integrated Limited, which is the subject of this investigation was registered in 2016.
“One of the properties marked today is his personal residence which he acquired in 2009, and his office, which was also marked today, was acquired in 2011 — that is about five to seven years before Atlastfield was registered.
“It is surprising that among the properties marked, there are ones he sold years ago,” Mr Gezawa added.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Nafisah Yusuf Hassan, a magistrate in Kano State, has been recommended for appointment as a judge of the Kano State High Court by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
KANO FOCUS reports that Hassan is among four judicial officers from Kano State recommended for elevation to the High Court bench out of 28 candidates selected nationwide.
The other nominees are Halima Yahuza Ahmad, Abdullahi Abdulsalam Bature and Musa Ibrahim Umar.
The NJC disclosed the recommendations in a statement issued by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, following its consideration of candidates for judicial appointments across the country.
The council said all recommended candidates were expected to be sworn in by their respective state governors without delay.
Hassan’s recommendation follows her years of service in the Kano State judiciary, where she has reportedly distinguished herself through diligence, professionalism and careful handling of cases.
She has been commended for her commitment to judicial ethics, diligence and fairness in the discharge of her responsibilities, achievements that contributed to her career progression within the judiciary.
Her elevation is part of a broader development in the Kano State judiciary, with four magistrates from the state successfully scaling the selection process for appointment to the High Court.
The four nominees were reportedly assessed during the selection exercise and demonstrated strong professional competence, while their service records were found to be free of adverse remarks.
Their recommendation marks a significant step in their judicial careers and is expected to strengthen the judicial workforce in Kano State upon their formal appointment.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) says it has tracked nearly 1,000 education projects across the state as part of efforts to promote transparency, accountability and effective service delivery in the education sector.
KANO FOCUS the coalition’s Co-Chair, Dr Auwalu Halilu, disclosed this on Wednesday during an advocacy visit to the Kano State Ministry of Public Procurement and Project Monitoring.
Dr Halilu said K-SAFE had monitored projects in more than six local government areas, covering interventions implemented by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Kano State Senior Secondary Education Management Board and Local Education Authorities (LEAs).
He explained that the monitoring exercise involved physical inspections and documentation of projects through photographs, videos and geographical locations.
According to him, reports of the findings had been submitted to relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), highlighting projects that met required standards and those requiring further attention.
He cited Rimin Gado Local Government Area, where the coalition tracked more than 80 education projects, adding that it planned to extend the exercise to all 44 local government areas of the state.
The K-SAFE Co-Chair said the visit was aimed at presenting the coalition’s activities to the ministry and exploring areas of collaboration in procurement and project monitoring.
He called for the inclusion of civil society organisations in procurement and monitoring processes, particularly tender board activities and field inspections, to strengthen independent oversight and provide them with firsthand information on government projects.
Dr Halilu also requested the ministry’s support in organising capacity-building programmes for civil society organisations on procurement procedures, due process, project standardisation, monitoring and evaluation.
He said such training would enhance civil society organisations’ understanding of procurement regulations and the technical requirements guiding project implementation.
Responding, the Commissioner for Public Procurement and Project Monitoring, Dr Nura Iro Ma’aji, welcomed the delegation and acknowledged the coalition’s contributions to supporting the state government’s efforts in the education sector.
He expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with K-SAFE through information sharing and other relevant engagements to strengthen accountability and ensure compliance with due process.
“From our side, we are ready to work together because we know what they have been doing to support Kano State Government in the education sector,” he said.
Dr Halilu further disclosed that the coalition and its partner organisations had carried out the monitoring exercise without financial sponsorship, describing it as a demonstration of their commitment to transparency and accountability.
He reaffirmed K-SAFE’s commitment to sustaining engagement with relevant government agencies, civil society organisations and the media to strengthen oversight of education projects across Kano State.
Ibrahim Khalil
Government Secondary School (GSS) Army Day Bukavu has emerged champion in both the male and female categories of the maiden Kano State Secondary Schools Tug of War Competition.
KANO FOCUS reports that the school clinched the double victory at the competition, which ended on Wednesday at the Kano Pillars Stadium, Sabon Gari, Kano.
Governors College finished as runners-up in the male category, while Government Girls College (GGC) Kano secured second position in the female category.
The competition was organised by the Kano State Tug of War Association in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Kano State Sports Commission.
The maiden championship brought together secondary school students to promote teamwork, discipline, unity and sportsmanship, while raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Vice Chairman of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Jamilu Uba Adamu, described the competition as a successful initiative that had achieved its objectives.
He commended the Ministry of Education, Sports Commission, NDLEA, Gongoni Company Limited and MAGZO Pharmaceutical for supporting the event, particularly through the provision of T-shirts and Pocari Sweat drinks.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Bashir Muhammad Sulaiman, who represented the Executive Chairman of the Sports Commission, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to developing grassroots and school sports.
He said the initiative would help identify and nurture young sporting talents across the state.
The closing ceremony was attended by a member of the Kano State Football Association Board, Rilwanu Idris Malikawa Garu, representatives of the Ministry of Education, NDLEA, the Sports Commission and other stakeholders in the sports sector.
The organisers congratulated the winning schools and commended all participating institutions and partners for contributing to the success of the maiden edition.
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