TheCable

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it arrested Kabiru Auta, a former judge of a Kano state high court, over an alleged N220 million fraud.

In a statement on Wednesday, Rasheedat Okoduwa, spokesperson of ICPC, said the former judge was detained on Tuesday when he honoured an invitation by the commission over allegations of criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery.

She said Auta allegedly conspired with some other persons to defraud a Kano businessman named Bashir Yakasai of N220 million.

“The matter was referred to the commission after it had been reported to the National Judicial Council which had constituted a committee to investigate the allegations,” the statement read.

“The amount involved had been fraudulently obtained from Yakasai by Auta and his accomplice, Bashir Sufi, on the pretext that they were acting on behalf of the former chief justice of Nigeria, hon. Justice Aloma Mukhtar.

“Auta in his statement to the commission disclosed that he made a part repayment of N20 million to Yakasai during the course of the matter.”

Okoduwa said the suspect was released on administrative bail but an investigation into the matter was ongoing.

In October 2016, the Nigerian Judicial Council (NJC) recommended Auta for prosecution over an allegation that he collected N197 million from one Alhaji Kabiru.