Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja — The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand in custody of Professor Sani Malumfashi, Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), and three other senior commission officials following their arraignment over alleged fraud involving N1.02 billion in public funds.
Trial Justice James Omotosho directed that the defendants be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the filing and consideration of formal bail applications. The prosecution, led by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), opposed bail, arguing that the severity of the allegations and the risk of interference with ongoing investigations warranted detention.
Professor Malumfashi, alongside the commission’s secretary, Anas Muhammed Mustapha, and the deputy director of accounts, Ado Garba, were arraigned on a six-count charge preferred by the anti-graft agency. The counts allege conspiracy, diversion, and money laundering offences related to the siphoning of significant public funds through accounts tied to a private entity.
According to the ICPC’s charge, between November and December 2024 the defendants allegedly conspired to take possession of N450 million using two bank accounts registered in the name of SLM Agro Global Farm, maintained at Jaiz Bank. The prosecution further alleges that additional sums of N310 million and N260 million were diverted into other accounts also linked to the entity. The anti-corruption agency argued that these transactions amounted to criminal conduct contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all counts during their arraignment. Their counsel, senior advocate Mahmud Magaji, SAN, informed the court that the defendants had been on administrative bail previously and contended that they had complied with all conditions attached to that bail. He urged the court to grant bail pending trial, but the prosecution counsel, Dr Osuobeni Akponimisingha, opposed the oral application, though leaving the matter to the court’s discretion.
Justice Omotosho declined to grant bail immediately, instead ordering the defendants to file a formal application so that the prosecution could respond in detail. The case was adjourned until Wednesday for further proceedings. Until then, the defendants will remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The decision has drawn attention to the wider issues of governance and accountability in state-level public institutions. KANSIEC, like other independent commissions in Nigeria, is constitutionally mandated to conduct and supervise local government elections in Kano. Allegations of corruption involving its leadership have raised questions about internal financial controls and oversight mechanisms, and triggered calls for enhanced transparency across electoral bodies nationwide.
Responding to the development, civil society organisations and anti-corruption advocates have reiterated the need for rigorous legal processes, emphasising that the rule of law must guide the investigation and adjudication of such high-profile graft cases. They argue that prompt and transparent prosecution of alleged financial crimes involving public officials is essential to strengthening public trust in democratic and governance institutions.
The ICPC’s action against the KANSIEC chairman and officials forms part of a broader government effort to tackle financial mismanagement and corruption across public agencies and commissions. In recent years, anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria have intensified efforts to pursue cases involving alleged diversion of public funds, money laundering, and abuse of office, prosecuting high-profile individuals and pursuing forensic accounting to trace and recover misappropriated resources.
Legal experts observing the matter noted that the charge sheet under the Money Laundering Act carries significant penalties upon conviction, including long-term imprisonment and forfeiture of proceeds of crime where guilt is established. The formal bail application due to be filed by the defence is expected to frame arguments around factors such as health, community ties, and compliance with administrative bail conditions, but prosecutors will likely emphasise flight risk and the need to prevent potential tampering with evidence or influence over witnesses.
The remand order underscores the seriousness with which the Federal High Court is treating the allegations against Professor Malumfashi and his co-accused, and signals the judiciary’s engagement in high-stakes corruption cases central to Nigeria’s drive for greater accountability. Pending the next hearing, legal practitioners will be watching closely for how the court balances individual rights against the imperatives of accountability and the public interest in seeing alleged financial crimes thoroughly prosecuted.
Further updates are anticipated as the formal bail application is filed and considered, and as the case proceeds through pre-trial and substantive hearings over the coming weeks.
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