Dr Bello Galadanci, a US-born Kano State indigene, filmmaker and journalist, popularly known as Dan Bello, has revealed alleged massive financial scandal involving the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State.
According to Galadanci, the treasury has been systematically looted through a complex network of bank accounts and companies.
Galadanci accused Hafsatu Abdullahi Umar, wife of the All Progressives Congress national chairman and former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Gaduje, of involvement in fraud.
He referred to the former Kano first lady as ‘Mummy’ in the video and displayed her campaign poster. He also displayed a statement of account with her name on it.
“Everyone has a unique Bank Verification Number (BVN),” he began, drawing attention to the fact that a single BVN was linked to 44 bank accounts, coincidentally matching the number of local government areas in Kano State.
Galadanci pointed out in his video that these accounts were not just ordinary accounts but were tied directly to influential figures in the state, including Ganduje’s wife whom he repeatedly referred to as ‘Mummy’.
“Let’s pay attention to Mummy’s BVN and look at the amount of accounts opened with this BVN—44,” he stated, raising concerns about the financial activities conducted through these accounts.
He further alleged that companies owned by ‘Mummy’ and her family, such as Safari Textile, were receiving money directly from the state treasury without any attempt to conceal the transactions.
“Straight from state coffers to personal accounts,” he emphasised, noting that the account history for just one of the 44 accounts spanned 286 pages.
He also revealed that a company named Shoreditch General Resources was registered under the name of ‘the brother of a friend to Mummy’s son,’ and used to siphon funds from the state.
He cited specific instances where large sums of money were transferred directly from the Kano treasury, including an N82 million transaction on May 5, 2020, followed by N63 million and another N82 million.
“Kabiru, I know you aren’t aware, so breaking news! On May 5, 2020, you were the manager of a company that’s used to loot Kano treasury without knowing,” Galadanci exclaimed, addressing an individual apparently unaware of their involvement in the scandal. He described how the funds were transferred in increments, mentioning MJ Multipurpose Service as one of the entities involved.
The scale of the alleged looting is staggering, with over N20 billion currently being traced.
“The amount of money stolen can’t be measured now due to the complexity of the system. But more than N20 billion are being traced,” he disclosed, highlighting the potential impact of such funds on the state’s infrastructure and welfare.
“All of Kano’s water treatment plants can be fixed and even start building a new one. Each local government in Kano can get two new primary schools. 1,000,000 people can buy N20,000 worth of medicine.”
Galadanci also raised serious questions about the influence of ‘Mummy’ over the APC leader in Nigeria and the implications for the northern region.
He questioned, “In the whole Kano, this is the most qualified person for this position? By doing that, what message is Tulumbu (a term now used by some northerners to described President Bola Tinubu) sending to the north?”
He concluded his exposé by linking the looting of public funds to the current state of hunger, poverty, and violence in the region.
“If you don’t have money, you will be hungry,” he said.
An angry man is more prone to get into violence. If you aren’t educated, you will be an illiterate. Illiteracy causes violence,” he said, holding those responsible for the theft accountable for the region’s challenges.
“Who should be arrested? The teacher or the thief?” This rhetorical question encapsulated the gravity of the situation, leaving the public to ponder the true cost of corruption in Kano State.
When SaharaReporters reached out to Mr. Edwin Olufo, Chief Press Secretary to APC National Chairman, Ganduje, he initially claimed he had not seen the video. However, after sharing the video with him, he became unresponsive, ignoring subsequent calls and a text message seeking his comment on the matter.
