The arraignment of Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano state’s immediate past governor, along with his wife, son, and five other individuals, for suspected bribery is scheduled for April 17, 2024, by a Kano State High Court.
Ganduje and the others are scheduled to appear in court on eight counts that include alleged bribery of $413,000, money diversion, and embezzlement totaling N1.38 billion.
The Kano Public Compliance and Anti-Corruption Commission was denied the authority to look into Ganduje about a purported $5 million bribery video, according to a previous report from the Federal High Court in Kano.
In giving his ruling, Justice Abdullahi Liman stated that the offense was a federal one that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Attorney General of the Federation may both pursue prosecutions for.
According to Justice Liman, the Kano anti-graft agency was not able to look into the former governor.
However, state governor Abba Yusuf urged the EFCC to make public the findings of its investigation on the purported video of dollar bribery involving Ganduje on Monday.
In a statement sent by his spokesperson, Sanusi Tofa, Yusuf stated that Ganduje ought to be ready for his trial rather than speculating about alleged shortcomings in the current government.
“For whatever option, the Kano State Government would advise the acting National Chairman of APC to show cause why his name, that of his family, and the entire people of Kano should permanently be erased from the global embarrassment that the dollar video has generated,” he said.
However, the Kano State Government named Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Hafsat Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lesage General Enterprises as respondents in a criminal suit. The writ of summons was seen by by newsmen on Tuesday. The government also gathered 15 witnesses to appear before the court.
The state High Court Number Four’s Justice Usman Na’aba will hear the case on April 17, 2024.
State Attorney General Haruna Dederi confirmed the development to reporters, stating that the case has been filed and that all parties involved will be served appropriately.
“It is very true. We have filed the case, but I cannot confirm whether he is served or not, but he will definitely be served. What he (Ganduje) doesn’t understand is that you cannot run away from the evil day. It will definitely come to you, and this will even serve as a deterrent to all of us.
“He was saying that we can’t prosecute him forgetting that the offence also falls under the category of the state offences. It’s not totally a federal affair,” he said.
