Court Grants KANSIEC Chair ₦200 Million Bail Over Alleged ₦1 Billion Fraud

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday granted bail to the Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Sani Malumfashi, in the sum of ₦200 million, over his alleged involvement in a ₦1 billion fraud case.

Also granted bail in the same sum were Anas Muhammed Mustapha, Secretary of KANSIEC, and Ado Garba, a Deputy Director in the agency’s accounts department.

Naijaonpoint reports that Justice James Omotosho, who ruled on the bail applications, held that the charges against the trio were bailable and not capital in nature.

“The charges before this court are not capital offences, and the prosecution has not opposed the applications,” the judge ruled.

As part of the conditions, the court ordered each defendant to provide two sureties in like sum, with each surety owning property worth at least ₦100 million within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Justice Omotosho further directed that each surety must depose to an affidavit of means, present evidence of tax payment for the past three years, submit recent passport photographs and provide certified true copies of bank statements for both sureties and defendants.

The defendants were also ordered to submit their international passports to the court registrar.

Pending the fulfilment of these conditions, Justice Omotosho directed that the accused persons be remanded at the Kuje correctional centre.

The matter was adjourned to March 4, 2026, for the commencement of the trial.

ICPC Accuses Officials Of Laundering Public Funds

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is prosecuting the KANSIEC officials over allegations that they fraudulently diverted public funds totalling ₦1 billion between November and December 2024.

According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/559/2025, the anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants conspired to launder ₦450 million through the account of SLM Agro Global Farm domiciled in Jaiz Bank.

Additional sums of ₦310 million and ₦260 million were also alleged to have been misappropriated.

The ICPC stated that the funds were believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities, and said the offences are contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge when it was read to them on Tuesday.