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Urges IGP to resist political interference in anti-corruption fight
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has condemned in its entirety the arrest of the Executive Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), Muhuyi Rimingado.
Rimingado was detained by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit on January 24, allegedly in connection with ongoing investigations into a high-profile corruption case involving properties linked to a senior member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement released on Monday, CISLAC’s Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, described the incident as “a clear case of corruption fighting back,” warning that such actions undermine Nigeria’s collective anti-corruption efforts and erode public trust in state institutions. “The Inspector General of Police must not allow his office to be used by desperate politicians to undermine anti-corruption efforts or shield powerful individuals from legitimate investigations,” Rafsanjani stated.
Rimingado’s arrest followed the seizure of properties believed to be proceeds of crime, as part of an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of approximately N4 billion from the Kano State Government. He was released later that night but was instructed to report to Force Headquarters in Abuja for further questioning.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme, Rimingado claimed that his arrest was orchestrated by one of the suspects under investigation. “When you fight corruption, corruption will fight back. Anti-corruption fight is fair but corruption fight is dirty,” he asserted.
He revealed that three federal agencies have been activated against him, indicating a concerted effort to undermine his work.
Rimingado stressed that his commission acted within legal provisions when it seized the properties in question. “We charged the matter to court after following laid-down procedures,” he explained.
He criticised the police’s accusations against him, which included abuse of power and mischief, asserting that his actions were legally justified.
CISLAC’s statement also highlighted the potential damage to Nigeria’s global reputation and investor confidence due to political interference in law enforcement. Rafsanjani concluded by calling for resistance against such manipulations to uphold justice and preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework.