Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), on Thursday arrested no fewer than 15 persons including lawyers, a high profile judicial officer and security agents suspected to have played a role in a land scam of over 20 billion naira.
The Chairman, PCACC, Muhuyi Magaji Rimin-Gado, told Reporters in Kano that the Commission has uncovered a sophisticated syndicate that specialised in grabbing public land.
Muhuyi Magaji Rimin-Gado said, “We have uncovered a syndicate of criminals that specialize in grabbing public land. What is so painful is the connivance of some lawyers, court clerks, land registry officials, and even security agents in compromising the system.”
The Commission Chairman expressed shock at the alarming rate of land grabbing in Kano, stated that the illegal activities were exposed following intervention of a Kano High Court ordered that favour arrest and investigation of a key suspect, Suleman Ali.
He “The court had been overwhelmed with complaints about these fraudulent activities. However, the arrest was only successful after the intervention of this commission—three years later,” he noted.
According to the commission, over 15 suspects have been arrested, including three lawyers and four officials from the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning. Some of the arrested individuals are in the commission custody following court remand orders, while others have been released on bail.
The chairman further revealed that the syndicate had engaged in forging government documents, obtaining fraudulent court judgments, and using these judgments to seize public and private properties.
The commission displayed exhibits recovered from the suspects, during the press briefing which included falsified letters of land grants, fake fire service reports, and a large sum of cash.
He said “This money, over two million naira, was offered as a bribe to a DSS operative by a suspect in exchange for his freedom,” he disclosed, commending the integrity of the officer who refused the bribe.
