Kano Emirate Spent N4.314bn not N6bn Since Emir Sanusi Assumed Office in 2014 – Official

The Kano Emirate Council at a press conference on Monday said that it has only spent N4.314 billion since Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II took office in June 2014 after Ayo Bayero‘s death.

According to Premium Times, Bashir Wali, the senior council official in charge of finance disclosed this, even as he debunked reports that the monarch has spent N6 billion of the emirate’s fund since he assumed office.

He said the council had N2.8 billion in fixed deposits with various banks, until February 7, 2014 when it expended N981 million on the Ado Bayero Royal City project under the late emir, Ado Bayero, leaving in the kitty a balance of about N1.8 billion.

Wali added that Emir Sanusi inherited N1.9 billion (exactly N1.893,378.927.38) and not N4 billion as stated in some media reports.

He added that N152m was spent in the procurement of furniture foe the palace after Bayero’s death as all his belongings were distributed to his heirs in accordance with Islamic injunctions.

“The sum of N108 million was also paid to the heirs of the late Emir Ado Bayero by the Emirate Council in respect of his personal cars inherited by the present Emir Muhammadu Sanusi. The cars now form part of Kano Emirate Council fleet of vehicles in the palace,” he added.

Wali adds that N142m was used to purchase bullet-proof vehicles on the advice of the state government following assassination attempt on the former emir.

 

On the two Rolls Royce cars being used by Emir Sanusi, Wali said: “The two Rolls Royce cars were never purchased by the Emirate Council. The cars were donated to His Highness by his friends.”

Wali said that according to the law, “The Emirate Council should receive three per cent of the total statutory grants of the 44 local governments and also 10 per cent of what the 44 local governments contributed is to be paid by the state government. From 2012 to date, the council has been denied of this contribution.”

He added that the emirate council received N1.7bn between June 2014 and March 2017. He however said the money should have been three times what was received in accordance to the law establishing the Emirate Council Fund 2004.

He also said Emir Sanusi upon assumption of office, reviewed the salary structures of the council upward, including their remuneration.

“The total monthly pay is now N36 million as against the N9.910 million before September 2014.”

Wali said the state government were fully informed of the review.

The Emirate Council’s secretary and treasurer have been summoned to appear at the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission’s office on May 2 to shed light on how over N4 billion was expended and to present legal instruments backing the expenditure, Premium Times said.

The allegation the emirate council is facing is coming on the heels of the emir’s criticism of Northern leaders and their policies.

He had slammed Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara for saying the recent meningitis outbreak was as a result of fornication. He also disagreed with Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano for his planned light rail project in the state, tagging it a misplacement of priority.