The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has concluded plans to arraign the Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Professor Sani Lawan Malumfashi, and two other officials over an alleged N1.02 billion money laundering scheme.
The trio is scheduled to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 21, 2025, to face charges relating to financial misconduct and abuse of office.
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In a statement released on Friday, ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare said investigations revealed that the accused persons conspired between November and December 2024 to carry out an illegal cash transaction in breach of existing financial regulations and anti-corruption laws.
According to the commission, KANSIEC transferred N1.02 billion from its Unity Bank account to SLM Agro Global Farm, a company that reportedly has no formal business relationship with the electoral body.
Although the officials claimed the funds were meant to mobilize cash for the payment of ad hoc staff who participated in the local government elections, ICPC described this explanation as inconsistent with its findings. The commission alleged that the funds were diverted for corrupt purposes.
Further scrutiny also raised questions over the use of an additional N20 million supposedly allocated for a verification team tasked with screening candidates across all 484 wards and 44 local government areas in Kano State. Contrary to that claim, ICPC said the entire verification process was conducted solely at the KANSIEC headquarters in Kano, with candidates covering their own expenses to appear.
The ICPC said it is committed to holding public officers accountable and ensuring that public funds are used transparently and in accordance with the law.
