Investigations have uncovered that the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Ishaq Hussaini Magaji (SAN), allegedly channelled kickbacks from federal contracts through his brother-in-law, Ali Mubarak Abba.
Documents show that Star of Stars Integrated Services (BN 7146430) was registered with the CAC on September 20, 2023 — less than a month before Magaji assumed office on October 13, 2023 — with Ali Mubarak Abba listed as the sole proprietor.
Sources confirmed that Abba is the elder brother of Magaji’s wife, Ummi Abba Ali.
On October 3, 2024, Abba registered another company, Sparkle of Sparklers Enterprise, which sources claim was established as an additional conduit for alleged kickbacks linked to contracts awarded under Magaji’s leadership.
₦29 MILLION CONTRACT AND TRACED TRANSFERS
A CAC insider revealed that Black Root Media Network Ltd received a ₦29 million media consultancy contract from the commission.
Payment records show ₦29,060,189.89 disbursed to Black Root Media Network Ltd (Providus Bank Plc, Account No. 0000962940) on August 7, 2024.
Subsequent transfers allegedly traced ₦10,200,000 from the contractor to Abba’s companies:
– ₦5,000,000 transferred to Star of Stars Integrated Services (Providus Bank Plc, Account No. 1304264619) on August 9, 2024.
– ₦5,000,000 transferred to Sparkle of Sparklers Enterprise (Providus Bank Plc, Account No. 1304264822) on May 31, 2024.
– Additional ₦200,000 deposited into the Sparkle of Sparklers account by the proprietor.
The total traced amount stands at ₦10,200,000.
Sources allege the pattern shows public funds moving from a CAC contractor to companies linked to Magaji’s wife’s family, suggesting indirect gratification and abuse of office.
ALLEGATIONS OF ACCOUNT MANIPULATION
When scrutiny increased, steps were allegedly taken to obscure the trail. Sources claim the Star of Stars Integrated Services account has now been closed and the proprietor’s BVN removed.
“Attempts to send money to the Star of Stars account now return messages indicating the account is invalid or unavailable, likely due to a Know Your Customer audit after the BVN was removed,” one source said.
The Sparkle of Sparklers account remains active, according to the sources.
When contacted, Ishaq Magaji denied any involvement:
“These are not facts; they are not true. Nothing is linked to me. Do I know anyone by that name? I don’t know him. And if you check the company, do I have any link to it or have I done anything with it? If someone has a separate business, does that mean he is linked to me? That is my response for now.”
He added: “I am seeing the name you mentioned, that he allegedly collected money and gave me. Do I know him? I don’t know him. And the company too, do I know the company? I don’t know the company you mentioned. So why would someone be raising allegations and associating them with me? For what reason?”
