KANO State House of Assembly, on Wednesday, set up a seven-man committee to investigate allegations of abuse of office levelled against the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.
At the sitting of the assembly, a member representing Nasarawa constituency, Ibrahim Gama, who raised a matter of public importance, said it was imperative for the assembly to probe the emir, following “various allegations from many quarters.”
Emir Sanusi, he said, was alleged to have spent fund belonging to the emirate council without appropriation and approval of the state governor, Mallam Umar Ganduje.
The emir was also accused of critising policies and activities of the state government as well as that of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, while he was also alleged to have lowered the prestige of the emirate in the eyes of public.
A member representing Kano Municipal, Baffa Babba-Dan’Agundi, who seconded the motion, also noted that it was imperative for the assembly to investigate the emirate.
The motion enjoyed the support of majority of the 40-member assembly, while the speaker, Honourable Alhassan Rurum, set up a seven-member committee to investigate the allegations, study the law establishing the traditional institution for possible amendment and report to the assembly within two weeks.
Chairman of the committee was the lawmaker representing Ajingi constituency, Abdul Madari, while members wereBaffa Babba-Dan’Agundi, Kabiru Dachi, Abba Garko, Sani Maidaji and two officials from the legal department of the assembly.
The emir is also currently facing probe by the state Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, over alleged misappropriation of emirate council funds to the tune of over N4 billion.
Sanusi, who succeeded Ado Bayero as the Emir of Kano on June 8, 2014, had been enmeshed in public criticism for his stand against the old order.
In April, the Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Agency (KSPCACA) set up a committee to investigate the emirate council over an alleged misappropriation of billions of naira left behind by his predecessor.
The committee, among other things, asked Emir Sanusi to explain the alleged financial recklessness and justify the legal framework under which the expenditure was made.
In addition to the allegation of finacial recklessness, he was also accused of unguarded and open criticism of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and that of Kano State government.
Precisely on March 6, 2017, Emir Sanusi delivered a speech on “Tradition, Modernisation and Reform: The Institution of Emir as Change Agent,” at the Department of International Relations, Oxford University, United Kingdom and some of his positions on the Islamic tradition and beliefs, especially on marriage, were openly rebuffed by some Islamic and northern clerics.
The 14th Emir of Kano was also accused of openly criticising the plans by some northern governors to borrow loan to the tune of $1.85 billion from Chinese government during the Kaduna Investment Summit.
He was reported to have said taking foreign loan would be a wasteful venture and misplacement of priority.
His probe by KSPCACA was said to have been sparked by the news attributed to him on the loan.
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