From Mustapha Adamu, Kano
A Senior Special Assistant, SSA to Governor of Kano State, Tasiu Al’amin-Roba and one other, Abdulkadir Muhammad have been arrested in connection with alleged diversion of palliatives meant for the vulnerable persons in the state.
The duo were arrested by operatives of Police in the state for allegedly diverting the palliatives rolled out for the vulnerable persons by the state government under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal in the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Usaini Gumel who confirmed the development, said the suspects were arrested at a warehouse where the palliatives were hoarded and reportedly repackaged.
Gumel said that, “the suspects were arrested at a warehouse with over 200 empty bags and were reportedly repackaging the rice and maize at the warehouse at Sharada.
“We have since commenced intensive investigation to find out how many bags of maize or rice were repackaged and sold.
“The two suspects would be charged to court after the conclusion of discreet investigations,” CP Gumel said.
Meanwhile, the Governor alongside other government officials were said to have on Saturday night carried out an unscheduled visit to the warehouse located in Sharada where it uncovered the diverted items.
The Governor during the visit, expressed shock and vowed to punish whoever was involved in the scandalous act of diverting the palliative food items consisting of maize and rice.
He immediately directed the commissioner of police to take over the warehouse and conduct swift investigation to fish out the culprits.
The whole thing became exposed following a tip off from some community members in Sharada who discovered suspicious movement of unknown persons around the warehouse and reported the matter to the appropriate authorities.
However, it was gathered that the diverted items (rice and maize) were meant to be distributed to the people living with disabilities, widows and orphans of the deceased security officers and other paramilitary officers among others in Kano.
