Nigerian Newsday

The Kano State House of Assembly is currently investigating the whereabouts of about N4 billion meant for the purchase of fertilizer for this year's planting season.

The House had recently summoned the state's commissioner for local government Alhaji Abdullahi Sani Rogo, who is believed to be at the centre of the fertilizer scam, to appear before it to explain why the commodity was not supplied after payment has been effected through a joint agreement between the state government and the 44 local government areas of the state.

Our correspondent gathered that the state government had in an agreement with the local governments agreed to contribute money for the purchase of fertilizer for farmers in the state during this year's cropping season.

An investigation by the Kano State House of Assembly, revealed that the 44 local governments paid up their own share of the amount, representing N2.4 billion to the commissioner for local government who awarded the contract for the supply of the fertilizer to the state chapter of Association of Local Governments (ALGON).

This action of the commissioner in awarding the fertilizer contract to ALGON however, did not go down well with members of the House of Assembly, who asked the commissioner to furnish the House with details of the contract immediately.

The lawmakers argued that the commissioner was wrong in awarding the contract to ALGON, pointing out that he had violated the state's financial regulations.

In his defence, however, the commissioner, while responding to questions from the members of the House, said: "Even President Obasanjo had once awarded contract for the supply of vehicles to ALGON and so it is a normal process which has not violated any law".

When confronted by newsmen after the session, the commissioner, Alhaji Abdullahi Sani Rogo, declined to speak on the matter.

Meanwhile, investigation into the alleged case of missing money meant for the purchase of fertilizer in Kano was still continuing in the House of Assembly.