Newspointer April 29, 2024
By Salihu Ali, Kano
The Judicial Commission of inquiry set up by Kano state Government to investigate allegations of misappropriated public properties and assets from 2015 to May 2023 has commenced sitting in Kano Northwest Nigeria.
Speaking during the Inaugural sitting, the Chairman of the Commission Justice Farouk Lawn Adamu assured the people of Kano of the commitment of the Commission to the principles of fairness and honesty and “will not be swayed by primordial interests of any kind.”
Justice Adamu noted that, the Commission was not established to witch-hunt or prosecute anybody but rather on fact-finding mission adding that, “at the end of our findings we will submit a set of recommendations to the State Government for possible implementation.”
He assured the people of Kano 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.”
Justice Adamu appealed to the media in particular to give the Commission the maximum support and cooperation as well as avoid the temptation of politicizing the work of the commission as doing so would be detrimental to the success of the fact-finding mission of this Commission.
Recalled that, the Judicial Commission of inquiry was inaugurated by Governor Abba Kabir on 4th April, 2024 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.
It is also, 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 of allocation were made and also provide the estimated current market value of such properties;
Other terms of reference includes “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 the propriety of such sale, disposal or allocation and make appropriate recommendations.
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.
To make recommendations on the recovery of any farmlands belonging to members of the public or institutional building found to be improperly sold, disposed off or allocated to any individual, company or entity.
To make recommendations for the recovery and restoration of any open spaces, prayer grounds, graveyards, historical or cultural sites or monuments and other open spaces as far as practicable.”