Ganduje probe: Kano commission of inquiry invites public to provide useful information

The Kano State Judicial Commission on the Recovery of Misappropriated Public Properties and Assets has called on general public to provide it with useful information that will assist in discharging its assignment.

The chairman of the commission, Justice Faruk Adamu, made the call during its inaugural sitting, held at the Audu Bako Secretariat in Kano on Monday.

In his speech, the chairman said the commission was not established to witch-hunt or persecute anybody but on fact finding mission.

“In addition, I would like to call on any person that has any useful information or input that will assist the Commission in its assignment to send it in writing for verification, after which he or she may be asked to appear before the Commission to testify in person. Note again that the Commission is here to serve and protect the interest of the public,” he said.

Mr Adamu assured the parties involved that the commission would be just, and give fair hearing to them.

According to him, “The Commission was not established to witch-hunt or persecute anybody. Rather, it is on a fact-finding mission and at the end of our findings we will submit a set of recommendations to the State Government for possible implementation.

“I wish to assure all and sundry that the Commission will be just and give fair-hearing to all the parties involved, be it individuals, companies, agencies or entities.

“In addition, I would like to call on any person that has any useful information or input that will assist the Commission in its assignment to send it in writing for verification, after which he or she may be asked to appear before the Commission to testify in person. Note again that the Commission is here to serve and protect the interest of the public.

“I would like to appeal to the general public and the media in particular to give the Commission the utmost maximum support and cooperation possible and also to appeal to them to avoid the temptation to politicize the work of the commission for doing so would ultimately be detrimental to the success of the fact-finding mission of this Commission,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Chairman said the 12-member panel has a 10-point terms of reference which includes as follows: “To review the sale, disposal or allocation of all government owned properties, institutional buildings including school buildings, government hospitals, praying grounds, historical and cultural sites and monuments, graveyards, and other open land or spaces within Kano Urban Area or other urban lands in other part of the Country belonging to Kano State from 29th May 2015 to 29th May 2023;

“To review the sale, disposal or allocation of all government-owned offices, houses, workshops and any other public building or land belonging to the State or local government council anywhere and outside the state/local government from 29th May, 2015 to 29th May, 2023;

“To provide a comprehensive inventory of all such affected properties, to determine the cost or value at which such sales, disposal or allocation were made and also provide the estimated current market value of such properties;

“To determine the individuals, companies, agencies or entities to which such sale, disposal or allocations were made whether such properties have changed hands and if so to whom;

“To determine if any abuses have been perpetrated in the process of such sale, disposal or allocations and identify the officials or persons responsible for such abuses;

“To determine the role of government ministries, departments and agencies or particular government officials in the process of such sales, disposal or allocations and determine their responsibility or culpability in any abuses or breaches of relevant laws and regulations;

“To make recommendations on the recovery of any government properties or institutional buildings found to be improperly sold, disposed off or allocated to any individual, company or entity,” among others.