KANO — Muhyi Magaji Rimin Gado, former Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), has revealed that his investigations into alleged financial misappropriations linked to former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje triggered threats, intimidation, and a forced midnight arrest aimed at halting his anti-graft work.
According to Magaji, his tenure at PCACC involved handling numerous petitions that uncovered what he described as an intricate network of corruption involving corporate entities, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and fraudulent land rent schemes suspected of diverting billions of naira in Kano State’s internally generated revenue (IGR).
The ex-official claims that as he pursued these cases, he began receiving persistent threats not only to his personal safety but also to his family, reflecting the high stakes of challenging entrenched political interests. Magaji recounted that the intimidation culminated in a dramatic night arrest, during which armed operatives surrounded him and forcibly transported him from Kano to Abuja under heavy guard in what he described as a 17-hour ordeal designed to silence him and prevent further prosecution of implicated individuals.
Speaking at an event hosted by the HEDA Resource Centre to mark the 19th edition of its “100 Profile Corruption Cases in Nigeria” compendium, Magaji likened the corruption networks he investigated to criminal syndicates, warning that confronting them carries risks comparable to challenging organized armed groups.
He emphasized that political interference and institutional complicity have severely constrained the ability of anti-corruption agencies to function effectively, putting both investigators and the rule of law at risk.
Observers note that the timing and nature of Magaji’s arrest—a midnight operation executed by armed personnel and a forced transfer to another city—raises serious questions about abuse of state power and the protection of influential political figures.
The allegations, if substantiated, point to systemic rather than isolated corruption, involving manipulation of state revenue mechanisms, PPP contracts, and land-related financial schemes. Magaji’s revelations highlight the broader challenge facing Nigeria’s anti-graft institutions: addressing deeply entrenched corruption while navigating a political landscape where intimidation and institutional compromise threaten both accountability and governance.
The episode underscores the urgent need for robust protections for whistleblowers and anti-corruption officials, and signals the broader implications of political interference on the country’s democratic institutions and public trust.
Source: Sahara Reporters