A Senior Special Assistant to the Cabinet Office, Tasiu Al’amin-Roba, and a man identified as Abdulkadir Muhammad, have been arrested for alleged diversion of palliative in Kano State.
In a phone interview on Sunday, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Hussaini Gumel, informed the News Agency of Nigeria that the suspects were apprehended at a warehouse in Sharada with almost 200 empty bags.
Gumel claimed that the suspects were repackaging rice and maize at the Sharada warehouse.
He added that the two suspects would be arraigned in court after the conclusion of investigations.
The Kano State Government earlier said it uncovered a warehouse where food items meant for palliatives were being diverted in the state.
Mallam Bature Dawakin-Tofa, the Governor’s Press Secretary, stated in a statement issued on Sunday, 3rd December, said that the warehouse was located at Sharada Industrial Estate.
Dawakin-Tofa stated that Governor Abba Yusuf and other officials were led around the storehouse where the hijacked food goods were kept.
The governor directed the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Danjuma Mahmoud, to update the media shortly after the inspection.
According to Mahmoud, parts of the hijacked palliative were for persons with disabilities, widows of armed forces officers and other security services.
Besides people with special needs, the last round of palliatives was also meant for families and widows of members of the armed forces; the army, navy, air force and the police. Others are families and widows of the personnel of sister agencies like immigration, correctional centre, customs, civil defence, road safety and Hisbah commission
Danjuma Mahmoud, Commissioner for Agriculture Kano State
Although the commissioner earlier refused to identify the perpetrators, he acknowledged that two suspects had been apprehended.
Story: Asma’u Sani