The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has arrested a serving commissioner in Kano State over allegations of fraud.

Mr Mukhtar Ishaq, a commissioner in the Ministry of Special Duties, was arrested by operatives of the EFCC Kano Zonal Office, the anti-graft agency said in a statement on Friday.

According to the statement, Ishaq was picked up on Thursday for allegedly diverting monies meant for Kano Municipal Local Government while he was Chairman of the said local government.

“Mukhtar’s trouble followed a petition which states that while he was Chairman, Kano Municipal, he allegedly diverted N76,000,000 only which was meant for projects, development and empowerment of the people,” the statement said.

The petitioner also alleged that the suspect ordered the deduction of N30,000 from the account of each council member without justification.

The commissioner was also alleged to have converted property of Kofar Nasarawa Primary School in Kano, into shops.

He was accused of selling them at the rate of N10 million per shop and diverted the money to personal use.

When contacted, Ishaq denied the report that he was arrested by the anti-graft agency.

Rather, he told Channels Television that he was only invited for questioning about an issue that happened since 2015 when he was the chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

“I’m right now in my house,” the commission said, adding, “EFCC invited me yesterday (Thursday) to offer some clarifications which I did.

“They asked me to go back today and continue; again I did, but I was surprised to hear that I was arrested by the EFCC.”

Meanwhile, a source close to the commission also told Channels Television that Ishaq was invited for questioning but had been asked to go after making all the necessary clarification.

“However, we may invite him again if need be,” the source said.