Nigeria, Sept. 5 -- The corruption scandal engulfing the Kano State Government has widened after the state's Commissioner for Community and Rural Development, Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, reportedly admitted to authorising a payment of N1.17 billion, which investigators say was fraudulent, while serving as the Accountant General.

Mr Abdulsalam, who was interrogated by officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), reportedly confessed to approving, in November 2023, the payment for a contract that never existed.

Investigators say the N1.17 billion payment forms the foundation of a suspected N6.5 billion fraud and money laundering scheme. They allege that Mr Abdulsalam conspired with Abdullahi Rogo...