The Kano state Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission says it will not take legal action against special adviser to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje on religious affairs Ali Baba and his son Huzaifa, who confessed to seizing prayer money given to some Qur’anic reciters in Kano.
Kano Focus reports that Executive Chairman of the Commission Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado made the declaration on Tuesday while presenting N270,000 recovered from Ali Baba to six Qur’anic reciters.
Mr Muhuyi said the Commission will not prosecute Ali Baba and Huzaifa because the latter is a civil servant.
It could be recalled that Ali Baba had confessed to sending his son Huzaifa to seize money paid to some Qur’anic reciters who conducted special prayers on Arafat Day at Kano Government House.
Mr Ali Baba had admitted that he sent Huzaifa and others to seize N45,000 and N40,000 respectively out of the N50,000 dished out to each of the reciters.
According to him, he meant to distribute the seized amount to other Qur’anic reciters who were not present at the Government House.
However, six of the Qur’anic reciters petitioned to the Anti-Corruption Commission seeking refund of their monies.
The petitioners according to Mr Rimin Gado are “Malam Audu, Malam Muhammad, Malam Abdurrahman, Malam Nazifi, Malam Ibrahim, Malam Usama and Malam Halilu.”
Mr Rimin Gado told the petitioners that he has recovered their money from Ali Baba and his son Huzaifa Ali Baba.
“The commission has investigated the petition based on Sections 22, 23 and 26 of Kano state Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption law which said whoever is found guilty of such offence should be prosecuted to face the wrath of law,” Mr Muhuyi said.
He however said, the commission will not prosecute the accused persons as its main concern is recovering the money and returning to the rightful owners.
“My sympathy is with Huzaifa, though the law is blind.
“He is a young civil servant with a family; if the court convicts him, he will automatically be sacked.
“That is why when you said you don’t want to institute legal action against him, I succumbed. It is your wish not mine”. Mr. Muhuyi told the Qur’anic reciters.
