The Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Professor Sani Lawan Malumfashi, and two top officials of the Commission are facing money laundering charges over an alleged illegal transaction involving over N1 billion.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed charges against Malumfashi, KANSIEC Secretary Mr. Anas Muhammed Mustapha, and Deputy Director of Accounts Mr. Ado Garba, for allegedly conspiring to conduct large-scale cash transactions in violation of public finance regulations and anti-corruption laws.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare, the accused were involved in the transfer of N1,020,000,000.00 (One Billion and Twenty Million Naira) from KANSIEC’s Unity Bank account to a private company, SLM Agro Global Farm, between November and December 2024. The firm, the ICPC noted, had no contractual dealings with the electoral commission.
The case is slated for hearing on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The defendants reportedly claimed that the funds were moved to facilitate cash payments to ad hoc staff engaged in the conduct of local government elections. They further alleged that the money was returned to KANSIEC in cash by the company.
However, the ICPC dismissed their explanation as a cover-up. “The defendants’ justification was found to be false,” the statement read. “In a letter to the Manager of Unity Bank, Zoo Road, Kano, the defendants requested a transfer of N59.4 million, supported by a cheque and a list of 468 Electoral Officers and 42 Assistant Electoral Officers with their bank details.”
The Commission said the payments were duly processed and credited by the bank, contradicting the defendants’ claims that bank transfers would have delayed the payments.
Additionally, the ICPC uncovered inconsistencies in the commission’s submitted electoral budget. Though the budget earmarked N20 million for a screening and verification team to travel across the state’s 484 wards and 44 local government areas, the exercise reportedly took place solely at KANSIEC’s headquarters in Kano. Candidates bore the cost of transportation, contrary to the budgeted provisions.
Despite this, the third defendant allegedly testified that the full N20 million was disbursed in cash for the exercise.
The ICPC insists that the transactions reflect a deliberate attempt to flout financial procedures and divert public funds, emphasizing its commitment to prosecuting the case to a logical conclusion.
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