Officers of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Monitoring Unit, recently arrested and then released Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, Executive Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, PCACC. The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center, or CISLAC, has denounced this action.
The occurrence was characterized by CISLAC as a blatant instance of “corruption fighting back” in a statement issued by its executive director, Auwal Musa-Rafsanjani. The group cautioned that such developments harm Nigeria’s collective anti-corruption efforts and destroy public trust.
Regarding Rimingado’s arrest, Mr. Rafsanjani expressed disapproval, pointing out that it seemed to be related to the commission’s continuing investigations into a high-profile case involving assets purportedly associated with a well-known national figure within the All Progressives Congress, or APC.
It was claimed that Mr. Rimingado was arrested on Friday night due to the confiscation of properties thought to be the proceeds of criminal activity.
Following a court order and its enabling law, the Kano Anti-Graft Agency investigated and prosecuted the former managing director of the Kano Agricultural Supply Company.
After being freed on bail later that evening, Mr. Rimingado was requested to appear at Force Headquarters in Abuja on Monday so that he could be questioned further.
“Desperate politicians must not use the Inspector General of Police’s office to sabotage anti-corruption efforts or protect influential people from justifiable investigations,” Mr. Rafsanjani said.
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Such acts undermine public trust in the impartiality of governmental institutions in addition to damaging the police force’s reputation.
He noted that such meddling undermines President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s professed commitment to accountability and openness and harms Nigeria’s reputation internationally, especially in the eyes of investors and the world community.
To guarantee that justice is served and Nigeria’s anti-corruption system is maintained, CISLAC emphasized in its conclusion the need to oppose political meddling in law enforcement.
