Justice Jame Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has remanded the Kano State Electoral Commission chairman, Sani Malumfashi, in Kuje Prison following his arraignment on allegations of orchestrating a large-scale election financial fraud exceeding N1.2 billion, alongside two other commission officials.
The other accused officials are the commission’s secretary, Anas Mustapha, and the deputy director of accounts, Ado Garba, who were also remanded by the court.
The arraignment was brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on six counts, including conspiracy, unlawful possession of public funds, and money laundering involving about N1.2 billion belonging to the Kano State Electoral Commission.
ICPC prosecutors told the court that the defendants allegedly diverted the funds through bank accounts linked to a private agricultural enterprise, SLM Agro Global Farm, using the accounts to disguise the origin of the money.
According to the agency, between November and December 2024, the officials allegedly conspired to withdraw N450 million in cash through two accounts domiciled with Jaiz Bank. Additional sums of N310 million and N260 million were allegedly transferred into two other farm-linked accounts within the same period.
The prosecution argued that the alleged acts violated provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, noting that the defendants’ positions of trust aggravated the severity of the alleged offences.
“These transactions were not incidental; they followed a deliberate pattern designed to conceal public funds,” the prosecution counsel said.
When the charges were read, all three defendants pleaded not guilty and urged the court to grant them bail.
Their lawyer, Mahmud Magaji, SAN, told the court that his clients had earlier been released on administrative bail and had fully complied with all conditions.
“My lord, the defendants have never breached any term of the bail granted by the prosecution,” Magaji said, urging the court to exercise discretion in their favour.
On the other hand, ICPC counsel Osuobeni Akponimisingha stated that while the prosecution opposed bail at that stage, it would defer to the court’s judgment. “We believe the nature of the allegations requires strict caution,” he said.
In a brief ruling, Justice Omotosho emphasized the need for due process, directing the defendants to file a formal bail application to allow the prosecution to respond adequately.
Consequently, the court ordered that the trio be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter until Wednesday for further hearing.
