The Kano State Anti-corruption and Public Complaints Commission has commenced a probe into alleged N1.5billion foreign scholarship fraud.

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

The state government sponsored 1,001 postgraduate students to pursue master’s degrees in India and Uganda.

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

Mr Yusuf, who recently hosted a farewell dinner for the first batch of 550 beneficiaries of the scholarship at the Government House, commended ex-governor Rabiu Kwankwaso for introducing the scheme.

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

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 was ongoing to identify and bring those responsible for the alleged scam to justice.

Mr Kabiru said, “Preliminary investigations uncovered fraudulent activities at the office of the Ministry for Higher Education over the postgraduate students to pursue master’s degrees in India and Uganda.

“We opened an investigation to find out the truth of the matter. Whoever is found to have been involved, will be prosecuted, no matter how highly placed.’’

NAN