Full text of the Kano Emirate Council press release:
The emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has debunked the allegations that he squandered a whopping sum of N6billion between June 8, 2014 to 11th April 2017, saying he is ready for probe.
This newspaper had exclusively published the emirate’s reckless and questionable expenditures, raising questions about the emir’s husbandry of the council’s coffers.
Addressing Journalists at the emir’s palace on Monday, Walin Kano, Mahe Wali, said the emirate council spent a total sum of N4,314,476,542.94 within the period under review, not the alleged N6 billion.
Explaining the emirate’s expenditure within the three years, Mr. Wali said Emir Sanusi met N1,893,378,927.38 at various banks as fixed deposit accounts.
On payment to axed bureau de change operator, Dabo Gate Ideal, Mr Wali said the sum of N152,627,723.00 was paid to the company for procurement of furniture for the palace after the death of late emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, because all his belongings, including the furniture were removed from the palace and distributed to his heirs, according to Islamic injunction.
Mr. Wali further said N108 million was paid to the late Bayero’s heirs by the emirate council in respect to his personal cars by Emir Sanusi, adding that the cars have now formed part of the emirate council’s vehicle fleet.
He further explain that “it is true the emirate council raised two payment vouchers for N6,993,203.00 and N5,560,235.00 to Western Union being the cost of air tickets for the emir’s entourage alone, excluding the emir who used to pay for his ticket.
“The council chartered an air flight only twice for His Highness for a trip to Sokoto State in September 2014 when the emir paid a traditional homage (mubaya’a) to sultan of Sokoto after he (Sanusi) was turbaned as the emir of Kano in which N,4,651,000.00 was spent.
“In January, 2015, the emir traveled to Benin for his Installation as Chancellor of Benin University and it cost the emirate council N9,071,000.00,” Mr. Wali added
On the allegation of the purchase of 2 Rolls Royce Executive Cars, the emirate council said the said cars were never purchased by the council, adding that they were donated to the emir by his friends.
On the internet data, the Walin Kano explained that “it is true that N37,054,192.06 was paid to Airtel due to the fact that the emir has been identified with only one local mobile phone, which he uses within and outside the country. Majority of the charges are that of roaming which are normal. The telephones of the palace are offset by the council particularly when it comes to within the provision of the budget.”
He noted that the emirate council operates a budget as approved annually by the council, adding that no expenditure was ever made outside the budgetary provision.
“Let me tell you that all these expenditure was made within the council’s budget. It is a mere allegation to say that the emirate council expended N6 billion in three years,” he added.
What you need to know about the Kano Emirate Council press release:
RECEIPTS:
1. The Council had N2.875 billion in various banks as fixed deposits under Emir Ado; N981.784 million was liquidated on July 7, 2014 and was used to finance the Ado Bayero City Project leaving a balance of N1.893 billion which was inherited by Emir Muhammadu Sunusi II (The Reformer).
2. By virtue of the Law establishing the Emirate Council of 2004, Kano Emirate is entitled to 3% of the total statutory grants of 44 LGAs plus 10% of the total contributions of 44 LGAs by Kano State Government. However, the Council received N1.728 billion between 30/7/2014 – 1/3/2017 i.e. 32 months. N1.143 billion was paid to it over period of 2 years i.e. 2014 and 2015 while N585 million was outstanding payments for 2012 and 2013 settled by KNSG. A total of N6.527 billion accrued from January 2012 – September 2016 was still been held by the state government.
EXPENDITURE:
1. A total expenditure of N4.314 billion was incurred under Emir Muhammadu Sunusi II.
2. All expenditure were duly budget cleared in line with tge budget approved by the Emirate Council.
3. Out of the N4.314 billion expenditure;
i) N152.627 million was spent on procurement of palace furniture after existing ones were distributed to the heirs of late Emir Ado Bayero as inheritance in line with Sharia’a.
ii) N108 million was paid to late Emir’s heirs as cost of acquisition of his personal cars for use as Emirate assets.
iii) N142.5 million was used to procure 2 bulletproof cars based on advise and approval of KNSG vide letter SSG’s letter SSG/S/D/A/36/T1/109 of 17th September 2014. This was to improve the security of the Emir after Boko Haram attacks and threats.
iv) N154.873 million was spent to purchase replacement of vehicles destroyed when late Emir Ado’s convoy was attacked by the Boko Haram terrorists.
v) N37.054 million was paid to Airtel for provision of telephone services.
vi) Improved salary package of Emirate employees; increased to N36 million per month.
vii) N6.993 million and N5.56 million (payments to Western Union totaled N12.559 million) were disbursed as costs of air tickets for Emir’s entourage alone.
viii) N4.651 million and N9.071 million were incurred as costs of air travels to Sokoto (by the new Emir to pay traditional homage to sultan) and to Edo for installation of Emir Muhammadu Sunusi II as Chancellor of the University of Benin.
ix) various expenditure on allowances of Council Members/District Heads, renovation/maintenance of traditional houses in the state, medical expenses of His Highness, renovation/maintenance of 3 palaces i.e. Nasarawa, Dorayi and Gidan Sarki. All these categories of expenditure were approved by KNSG to be charged to the Emirate Council Fund vide numerous correspondences.
Now, what still is the big deal?