Anti-Graft Commission Recovers Five Vehicles from Ex-Kano Commissioners, Probes Alleged Sale of Official Cars

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has recovered five official vehicles from former commissioners who resigned from the State Executive Council, amid allegations that some of the original cars were sold after they left office.

Operatives of the commission carried out the recovery exercise on Thursday following what officials described as the continued refusal of the affected ex-commissioners to return government property in their custody.

Those involved are Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Umar (retd), former Commissioner for Internal Security; Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Commissioner for Youth and Sports; Dr Yusuf Ibrahim Kofar Mata, former Commissioner for Science and Technology; Dr Adamu Aliyu Kibiya, former Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs; and Hon Nasiru Sani Garo, former Commissioner for Special Projects.

Addressing journalists after the operation, the Chairman of the commission, Sa’idu Yahaya, said the action followed formal complaints and notification from the Office of the Secretary to the Kano State Government, the custodian of government vehicles, over alleged abuse of office and failure to return public assets after resignation.

Yahaya disclosed that the commission secured a court order before moving to recover the vehicles, insisting that due process was strictly followed.

“Government assets are not personal property. Once an official leaves office, all government vehicles and assets in their custody must be returned immediately,” he said.

“They were advised to return the vehicles to avoid a situation like this, but they refused, leaving us with no alternative.”

The anti-graft boss revealed that although five vehicles were recovered, only two were the original cars purchased by the government for the former commissioners.

The remaining three, he said, were different vehicles allegedly used to replace the original ones.

“Investigation revealed that the official vehicles had been sold and replaced with other vehicles, which we also recovered. We will launch a full-scale investigation to determine whether the official vehicles were sold to procure these ones or otherwise,” Yahaya added.

He dismissed claims of political witch-hunt, stressing that the commission’s intervention was in line with its statutory mandate to safeguard public property and ensure accountability in public service.

“This is not about witch-hunting anyone. It is about protecting the resources of the people of Kano State. We will not tolerate any form of misconduct or unlawful retention of government property,” he said, warning that surveillance on public assets would be intensified.

Meanwhile, a retired senior civil servant, Mohammad Tukur, clarified that no law permits a commissioner to retain an official vehicle after leaving office. According to him, official vehicles are strictly provided to aid public office holders in carrying out their duties and must be returned at the end of their tenure.

He added that while a governor may exercise discretion to allow an official to retain a vehicle, commissioners are ordinarily entitled only to certain allowances upon exit — and even that may not apply in cases of resignation or removal from office.