Outspoken Emir of Kano linked in 'financial misconduct' probe

The Kano Emirate has been summoned by the anti-corruption agency in the northern Nigerian State over the expenditure of the office of the outspoken and one of the country’s most powerful leaders Emir Muhammad Sanusi II after his appointment in 2014.

The head of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, Muhyi Magaji said on Monday that they are investigating complaints of “questionable expenditures and financial misappropriations”.

The exact amount of money was not mentioned but local Nigerian media had speculated an amount that the Emirate debunked immediately at a press conference.

The senior council official in charge of finance for the Kano State Emirate Council and also the Walin Kano, Bashir Wali said the emirate had only spent N3.4 billion ($11,127,520) since Sanusi emerged Emir in June 2014.

“The Emir Sanusi inherited N2.9 billion (exactly N2.895,165,43.77) – $9,491,120 – and not N4 billion as stated in some media reports,” he explained.

The Emirate Council is expected to honour the summons of the anti-corruption agency on May 2, 2017.

During his tenure as central bank chief, Muhammad Sanusi (then Sanusi Lamido Sanusi) carried out some of the toughest decisions in streamlining the Nigerian economy particularly its banking sector. He jailed corrupt bank managers and dissolved bank boards for mismanagement.

He was sacked by then president Goodluck Jonathan for exposing a non remittance of statutory funds amounting to $20 billion into the government chest. A charge he denies.

Months later, he was appointed the Emir and ruler of the northern city of Kano on June 8, 2014 succeeding his late uncle Ado Bayero who had served in the traditional and religious role for over 50 years.

Emir Sanusi has also been critical of the Kano government and Muslim leaders over corruption, religious, educational and societal issues among others.

He said late last year that the commercial city of Lagos is a far more progressive state and can do without oil from the restive Niger Delta region.

He also openly condemned child marriages during a conference of Northern religious leaders on primary health care in Kano.

Early this year, he disclosed that there will soon be a law which would stop men from taking more than one wife if they did not have the means to support them.

If he is charged of any wrongdoing after the investigation, he could be deposed as Emir.