The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is set to arraign the Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Prof. Sani Lawal Malumfashi, for his alleged involvement in a N1.02 billion money laundering case.
Also slated for arraignment are KANSIEC Secretary, Anas Mustapha, and Ado Garba, a Deputy Director in the commission’s Accounts Department.
The trio will be docked at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, July 21, 2025.
A statement released Friday by ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, disclosed that investigations revealed the accused conspired to conduct an illicit cash transaction in violation of Nigeria’s financial laws and anti-corruption regulations.
According to the anti-graft agency, between November and December 2024, Sani Lawal Malumfashi and his co-defendants allegedly transferred N1.02 billion from KANSIEC’s Unity Bank account to a private company, SLM Agro Global Farm, which has no contractual relationship with the electoral body.”
The defendants reportedly claimed the funds were sent to SLM Agro to raise cash for paying ad hoc staff who worked during the local government elections in the state.
They also insisted that the company returned the full amount in cash to the commission.”
However, ICPC dismissed this explanation as a fabrication, asserting that available evidence disproved their claims.
“ICPC further revealed that the defendants, in the statements they volunteered, argued that the transfers made to SLM Agro Global were made with the intention to raise cash needed to pay the ad hoc staff that participated in the local government election in the state, and that the firm returned all such transfers to KANSIEC in cash,” the statement read.”
“Investigation, however, revealed otherwise as a letter from the defendant addressed to the Manager, Unity Bank, Zoo Road, Kano, detailed wherein they requested transfer payment of the sum of N59,400,000.00 attached with a cheque of same amount and a list of 468 Electoral Officers and 42 Assistant Electoral Officers’ bank details for payment through the banking system.”
ICPC confirmed the bank honoured the request and all listed electoral officials were paid via standard banking procedures.
The commission rejected the excuse that bank transfers were avoided due to time constraints, branding the explanation “a lame cover for corruption.”
“That claim was found to be mere conjecture, a screen to hide corruption and a lame excuse to justify the offence of money laundering,” ICPC stated.”
The anti-corruption agency also questioned the use of N20 million allegedly designated for a verification team meant to screen candidates across Kano’s 44 local government areas and 484 wards.
“ICPC said the money was unjustified as the entire verification exercise was conducted at the KANSIEC headquarters in Kano, with candidates forced to appear at their own expense — contradicting the stated purpose of the funds.”