A Kano Magistrate Court has ordered the arrest of the Chairman of Kumbotso Local Government Council, Ado Panshekara, accused of diverting Covid-19 palliative items.
The arrest warrant issued by Magistrate Musa Ibrahim Fagge follows charges by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission for which the accused failed to appear before the court.
The alleged offence is contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code and Section 26 of Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Law 2008 (As amended).
In the writ of summon, the accused is alleged to have distributed palliative materials to security personnel comprising the Police, DSS, Immigration etc, as well as Hisbah personnel which contravenes the provision of Section 22, 23 and 26 of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended).
The Commission explained that those who are not to benefit from the palliatives include all political office holders, civil servants at federal, state and local government, political party officials at ward level, traditional rulers, Juma’at Mosques Imams and Pastors and casual workers at federal, state, and local government.
The prosecutor, Salisu Tahir, told the court that proceedings in the matter could not go on because the accused was not in court, contrary to the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.
The court summon served on the accused fixed Wednesday, May 13, 2020, for his arraignment. His absence led to the warrant of arrest and adjournment of the matter to May 27.
