ICPC to Arraign KANSIEC Chairman, Two Others Over Alleged ₦1 Billion Fraud

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it will arraign the Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Professor Sani Lawan Malumfashi, on Monday, July 21, 2025, over a ₦1 billion money laundering case.

Also to be arraigned are the Commission’s Secretary, Anas Muhammed Mustapha, and Deputy Director of Accounts, Ado Garba.

A statement signed by Demola Bakare, Director of Public Enlightenment and Education and spokesperson for the ICPC, said the three will appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The Commission alleges that between November and December 2024, the officials moved over ₦1.02 billion from KANSIEC’s Unity Bank account to a private company, SLM Agro Global Farm, which had no contract with the Commission.

“While the defendants claimed the transfer was to raise cash for paying ad hoc staff who worked during the local government election, they also alleged that the company returned the funds in cash,” the statement said.

ICPC rejected the explanation, saying it was not supported by evidence. The Commission said it found a letter addressed to Unity Bank’s Manager at Zoo Road, Kano, requesting a cheque payment of ₦59.4 million and attaching a list of 510 electoral officers with bank details.

“Their claim that the banking system or transfers would have been too slow to accommodate their requests in the case of ad hoc staff was found to be a mere conjecture, a screen to hide corruption and a lame excuse to justify the offence of money laundering,” ICPC stated.

The Commission also pointed to irregularities in a ₦20 million budgeted for screening candidates in 484 wards and 44 local governments.

According to ICPC, instead of conducting the screening in the wards, the candidates were asked to come to KANSIEC’s office in Kano and paid for their own transportation.

“The team did not travel out of Kano and the candidates made it to the KANSIEC office in Kano at their own expense, yet the 3rd defendant in his statement to the ICPC investigating officers stated that the entire budget of ₦20 million was given in cash to the KANSIEC Members who constitute the screening/verification team,” the statement added.

The three accused are expected in court on Monday to take their pleas.

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