The Kwankwasiyya political movement in Kano State has defended the Deputy Governor, Aminu AbdulSalam Gwarzo, against allegations that he misappropriated ₦1.1 billion, insisting that the funds were released with the approval of Governor Abba Yusuf.
The development comes after the Kano State House of Assembly served an impeachment notice on Gwarzo on Thursday over allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office and breach of public trust.
In the notice signed by 38 out of the 40 lawmakers in the state Assembly, the deputy governor was accused of financial misconduct during his tenure as Commissioner for Local Government, and in his current role as deputy governor. However, documents released by the Kwankwasiyya movement, dated between April and June 2024, suggest that the governor approved the N1.1bn in question for specific projects across the state.
According to the documents sighted by newsmen, the allocation was intended for water supply interventions and drug procurement across the 44 local government areas of the state.
Recall that on April 15, 2024, the Kano State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria wrote to the Ministry for Local Government requesting funds to address water shortages and provide drugs for residents. The request was endorsed by Gwarzo and subsequently forwarded to the governor for approval.
In another memo dated May 20, 2024, the deputy governor formally sought the governor’s approval for the release of the funds. The memo stated that the intervention would “go a long way in resolving problems of acute shortage of portable water across the 44 Local Government Councils, as well as assisting the less-privileged towards accessing qualitative drugs.”
The approval for the release of the funds was later conveyed on June 10, 2024, through a letter signed by the Director of Local Government Inspection, Abubakar S. Dabo, on behalf of the commissioner. Under the approved breakdown, each local government was allocated ₦10 million for the maintenance and repair of boreholes and open wells, while ₦15 million was earmarked for the supply of drugs and medical equipment, bringing the total allocation to ₦25 million per Council.
Leaders of the Kwankwasiyya movement argued that the documents demonstrate that the deputy governor acted within official procedures and with the consent of the governor. They dismissed the allegations raised by the Assembly as politically motivated.
The impeachment move comes amid heightened political tension in Kano following Governor Yusuf’s reported defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Analysts say the impeachment proceedings may also be linked to political disagreements after the deputy governor reportedly refused to defect alongside his principal and remained aligned with the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya movement.
Gwarzo has been given two weeks to respond to the allegations. If his response is deemed unsatisfactory, the assembly is expected to constitute an investigative panel in line with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.
