The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is set to arraign the Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Professor Sani Lawan Malumfashi, over alleged laundering of more than N1 billion.
Two other senior officials of the Commission, KANSIEC Secretary, Anas Muhammed Mustapha, and a Deputy Director in the Accounts Department, Ado Garba will also be arraigned. All three are scheduled to appear before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, July 21, 2025.
According to a statement issued on Friday by ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, the anti-graft agency’s investigation revealed that the accused persons allegedly conducted unlawful cash transactions between November and December 2024 in violation of financial regulations and anti-corruption laws.
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Court filings indicate that under Malumfashi’s leadership, KANSIEC transferred a total of N1.02 billion from its Unity Bank account to a private firm, SLM Agro Global Farm, which reportedly had no formal engagement or contract with the Commission.
The defendants claimed the funds were intended to be converted into cash to pay ad hoc staff who participated in Kano’s local government elections, and that the entire amount was later returned in cash to KANSIEC.
However, ICPC’s investigation found otherwise.
“The defendants argued that the transfers made to SLM Agro Global were intended to raise cash for payment of ad hoc staff. They claimed the firm returned all such funds to KANSIEC in cash. But the investigation showed a different narrative,” the statement read.
Bakare explained that a letter from the defendants to the Manager of Unity Bank, Zoo Road branch in Kano, requested a transfer of N59.4 million, accompanied by a cheque of the same value and a list of 468 Electoral Officers and 42 Assistant Electoral Officers, complete with their bank details for direct payments.
The bank reportedly honored the request, and all listed beneficiaries received their payments through the banking system.
“The claim that electronic transfers would have been too slow for paying ad hoc staff was found to be a mere conjecture, a smokescreen to conceal corrupt practices and a weak justification for money laundering,” Bakare stated.
The ICPC also raised concerns over the alleged misappropriation of N20 million reportedly budgeted for a verification team assigned to screen candidates across Kano’s 484 Wards and 44 Local Government Areas.
The Commission revealed that, contrary to the stated purpose, all candidate screenings were conducted at KANSIEC’s headquarters in Kano, with candidates bearing their own transport costs.
“Although the 2024 election budget (mistitled as ‘Operation Budget 2025 Elections’) provided N20 million for a team to conduct candidate verification across the state, the entire exercise took place at KANSIEC’s office in Kano. The team never travelled, and the candidates appeared at their own expense,” the statement added.
Yet, the third defendant reportedly told ICPC investigators that the full N20 million was disbursed in cash to KANSIEC members who formed the screening team.
