The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission has said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is not involved in the ongoing investigation of the Kano Emirate Council.

Chairman of the state anti-graft commission, Muhiyi Magaji, said this on Tuesday while talking to newsmen on the recent reports in the social media that operatives of the EFCC were taking part in the probe.

Magaji described the reports as false, baseless and a deliberate attempt to cause confusion in the state.

He agreed that he held a meeting with the acting EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu, but noted that the meeting had nothing to do with the ongoing investigation of the Muhammadu Sanusi-led Kano Emirate.

“Yes, I met with the EFCC Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu, last week, but it was on the general activities of the commission as well as its success or achievements,” Magaji said.

“We have not handed over this case to EFCC, so how can their operatives storm the Emir’s Palace and locked some offices as being peddled.

“Any contrary information on my meeting with the EFCC chairman is not only baseless but untrue and unfounded, so people should disregard it,” he added.

When asked to comment on the recent meeting by some northern state governors to mediate between Kano State Governor Umar Ganduje and the Emir of Kano. Sanusi, Magaji said his commission has nothing to do with the meeting.

He said that the Kano State anti-corruption agency was an independent body, adding that probe of the Kano Emirate council was not ordered by the Governor.

He said: “The state government did not ask us to do what we are doing and did not also ask us to stop.

“The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended) provides for the independence of the commission.

“In exercising its powers under the law, the commission shall not be subjected to the direction and control of any authority.

“As such the commission is only attached to the government to address administrative issues but not operational.

“So we are acting on the petition and any other thing is secondary to the commission.”

Magaji maintained that his commission will continue with the investigation,  noting that some of the people invited to appear before the commission have indicated their willingness to honour the invitation on the stated date, May 3.