DRUG CONTRACT SCAM: KWANKWASO'S NEPHEW COMPLIES WITH KANO ANTI-GRAFT SUMMONS

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The lingering investigation into a multi-billion naira drugs contract scam at Kano Local Government Areas took a different dimension on Thursday when Musa Garba, the owner of Novomed Pharmaceuticals, who allegedly secured the contract to supply N440m drugs agreed to honour the invitation of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission.

Earlier, the commission had launched an investigation into an alleged drug contract scam at the 44 LGAs of the state, valued at N440m. In the course of the investigation, the commission discovered another anomaly in the contract of borehole water repairs scam valued at about N660m.

The investigation led to the interrogation of several officials, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mohammed Kabara; the Chairman of the state branch of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, Abdullahi Bashir; and other officials of the Ministry of Local Government, who were initially detained and the subsequent invitation of the owner of Novomed Pharmaceuticals, Musa Garba, to appear at the commission on Thursday.

Honouring the invitation of the anti-graft commission invitation on Thursday, with his lawyers, Musa Garba, who is said to be Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s nephew noted that he needed clarification on the invitation for interrogation.

While speaking through his Council, Okechukwu Nwaeze, said apart from the invitation of the Kano State Anti-corruption Agency, they have another invitation from ICPC and EFCC on the same matter.

However, he noted that there is a subsisting judicial ruling that a person cannot be facing interrogation or trial for a singular offence by several organisations.

“Our client is ready to face any interrogation but the challenge of invitation of three anti-graft bodies for the same matter is more than double jeopardy,” Nwaeze said.

He noted that they may be considering challenging the numerous invitations in court for clarification.

However, the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission has yet to comment on the unfolding development.