The Kano State Anti-corruption and Public Complaints Commission is currently probing an alleged N1.5 billion foreign scholarship fraud.

The commission is questioning two top officials of the state Ministry of Higher Education regarding the issue of 1,001 students supposedly studying in India and Kenya.

Preliminary investigation showed that whereas, a total of 550 students were listed for the first batch, only 418 candidates actually travelled overseas for the programme.

The State Government sponsored 1,001 postgraduate students to pursue their master’s degrees in India and Uganda.

The initiative is part of the government’s foreign scholarship scheme which was inaugurated by Gov. Abba Yusuf.

Yusuf recently hosted a farewell dinner for the first batch of 550 beneficiaries of the scholarship at the Government House, where he commended former Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso for introducing the scheme.

It was, however, learnt that only 418 students were actually sent abroad for studies, raising questions about the whereabouts of the remaining students.

When contacted, the commission’s Public Relations Officer, Kabiru A.  Kabiru, confirmed the report, saying the two top officials were interrogated over the alleged scholarship scam.

He said an investigation is ongoing to identify and bring those responsible for the alleged scam to justice.

“Preliminary investigations uncovered fraudulent activities at the office of the Ministry for High Education over the postgraduate students to pursue their master’s degrees in India and Uganda.

“We opened investigation to find out the truth of the matter. Whoever is found to have been involved, will be prosecuted, no matter how highly placed,” Kabiru warned.(NAN)