PCACC Arrests Man Over Alleged Illegal Sale of Kano Govt Horse Stable

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has arrested a man, Tasiu Adamu Maje, over the alleged illegal sale and leasing of a government-owned Horse Stable at the Race Course, popularly known as Filin Sukuwa.

The Commission disclosed this in a statement signed by its Acting Chairman, Hafsat Ada’u Kutama, saying the arrest followed complaints filed by Muhammad Amir Yunusa and Usman Bala Yakasai, popularly known as Sharif.

The complainants alleged that Maje offered and transferred the government property to private individuals despite having no authority to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of it.

According to the PCACC, its investigation established that the Kano State Sports Commission, the statutory agency responsible for the allocation and management of Horse Stables in the state, was neither aware of nor involved in the alleged transactions.

It said the investigation further established that the Horse Stable had never been officially allocated to any individual through sale or lease.

The PCACC also said a document allegedly used by Maje to facilitate the transaction was not an approved or recognised document of the Kano State Sports Commission.

The commission said the same unapproved document was allegedly used in transactions involving two different individuals, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the dealings.

According to the PCACC, Maje allegedly agreed to sell the Horse Stable to Yunusa for ₦4.5 million while simultaneously collecting rent from Yakasai.

It said ₦180,000 was demanded from Yakasai as rent, of which ₦150,000 was reportedly paid in connection with the purported transaction.

The Commission declared the transactions unauthorised and invalid, stressing that the property remains owned by the Kano State Government and is under the control and management of the Kano State Sports Commission.

It said no individual had the authority to sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of government property without the required legal and administrative approval.

The PCACC said it had commenced steps to recover the Horse Stable and return it to the Kano State Sports Commission.

The suspect is expected to be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction, where the allegations against him will be subjected to due process, the commission added.

Kutama warned against attempts to convert government property into private assets or sources of personal profit, saying such conduct would not be tolerated.

The Commission also advised members of the public to verify the ownership, allocation and legal status of government property with the relevant authorities before making payments or entering into transactions.

It reaffirmed its commitment to investigating alleged corruption, abuse of office and unlawful disposal or commercialisation of public assets.