‘N4bn fraud’: Court grants ex-KASCO MD, son bail

A state high court has granted administrative bail to Bala Inuwa, former managing director of the Kano Agricultural Supply Company Limited (KASCO).

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission (PCACC) arrested Mohammed and his son, Mohammed Inuwa (Jr), on Thursday over allegations of money laundering.

The anti-graft agency preferred a 10-count charge against the duo alongside two others and an organisation.

The co-defendants are Halima Inuwa, Najib Muhammad and Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Compassionate Friends.

PCACC alleged that Inuwa primarily used the Association of Compassionate Friends, a non-governmental organisation, which he founded, for money laundering.

The charges against the defendants border on criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation and making false statements of return contrary to the penal code and PCACC laws of Kano state.

According to the charge, the defendants, between August 2022 and April 2023, misappropriated and diverted N4,067,290,742 which was meant for KASCO for their personal use.

At the court session on Tuesday, Usman Na’abba, the presiding judge, granted bail to Inuwa on self-recognisance while his son was to provide the sum of N10 million and one surety.

Nasiru Aliyu, defence counsel, argued that it was improper for the court to hear and consider the PCACC charge filed against his client.

Aliyu told the court that there is a subsisting court order restraining the commission from filing any charge or conducting any investigations against his client.

The judge adjourned the matter to August 22.