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The Kano State Anti-corruption and Public Complaints Commission, said it has commenced findings into an alleged N1.5 billion foreign scholarship fraud.
Following the investigation, the agency had quizzed two top officials of the state Ministry of Higher Education in connection with the issue of 1,001 students supposedly studying in India and Kenya.
Recall that the state government sponsored 1,001 postgraduate students to pursue their master’s degrees in India and Uganda as part of the government’s foreign scholarship scheme inaugurated by Governor Abba Yusuf.
Yusuf recently hosted a farewell dinner for the first batch of 550 beneficiaries of the scholarship at the Government House, commending former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso for introducing the scheme.
It was learnt according to the Punch that only 418 students were sent abroad for studies, raising questions about the whereabouts of the remaining students.
The commission’s Public Relations Officer, Kabiru Kabiru, who was reached following the discrepancy in the figure, confirmed the report, adding that "two top officials were interrogated over the alleged scholarship scam.
“Preliminary investigations uncovered fraudulent activities at the office of the Ministry for Higher Education over the postgraduate students to pursue their master’s degrees in India and Uganda.
“We commenced an investigation to establish the truth of the matter. Whoever that is found to be involved will be prosecuted, no matter how highly placed,” Kabiru stated.
