The Kano State House of Assembly on Wednesday set up an eight-man committee to investigate the alleged misconduct of the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sunusi II, as well as allegations of misappropriation of funds in the coffers of the Emirate Council.
Speaker Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, who presided over the session, established the panel following a point of order by the member representing Nasarawa constituency, Ibrahim Ahmad Gama.
The lawmakers also alleged that Mr. Sanusi has been spreading false information on Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s recent trip to China recently concerning a light rail project in the state.
Mr. Gama insisted, “the statement from the Emir is capable of tarnishing his [Ganduje’s] image, the government and that of the Assembly.
“The Emir, during his speech in Kaduna, alleged that the Kano State governor and his entourage, including me as the Chairman of the House Committee on Works, wasted one month in China seeking for a loan to construct a rail.
“The Emir’s statement was not true, we spent only four days in China, and our visit was to find out the capability of the company to handle the rail project.
“His allegations has caused a lot of insult to me, the state government and also the house of assembly by the general public in the state, and outside the state.”
He also took a swipe at Emir Sanusi for sending his daughter to represent in one of the functions organized by the Bring Back Our Girls group in Abuja, describing it as inimical to the tradition of the Emirate Council.
“There are many responsible Emirate Council members who can represent him at the program. This is the first time we are seeing such in the historical traditional home,” he added.
According to Mr. Gama, the mode of dressing by the Emir’s daughter during the program was an embarrassment to the emirate council and the tradition of Kano people.
He also accused Mr. Sanusi for introducing religious issues that are contrary to the teachings of Islam, saying such things are capable of disgracing the religion.
Mr. Gama further accused Emir Sanusi of involvement in political issues, misappropriation of emirate Council’s fund, and making statements against President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Assembly set up a committee to investigate the allegations within two weeks and report back to the Assembly.
The constitution of the panel came just hours after the Nigeria Police Force docked a renowned cleric, Sheikh Nasiru Bazallah, before a senior Kano Magistrate court for allegedly insulting the Emir of Kano with the intent to provoke a breach of peace.
The prosecution alleged that the cleric incited disturbance and defamed the character of the monarch, contrary to sections 114, 392 and 399 of the penal code law.
On May 8, 2017, Mr. Sanusi lodged a direct complaint to the Kano State Commissioner of Police alleging that the accused made the alleged inflammatory remarks on March 20th, 2017.
He further alleged that the Islamic scholar criminally gathered his followers at Goron Dutse Quarters where he made statements to incite disturbance.
The accused said the allegations leveled against him were false.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Haziel Ledapwa, informed the court that the investigation is still in progress.
The presiding Magistrate Hassan Ahmed Fagge, in his ruling, admitted the accused into bail with the sum of N1 million with two reliable sureties.
