The Kano State High Court has scheduled April 17, 2024, for the arraignment of the former governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje, along with his wife, son, and five others, on charges related to alleged bribery.
Ganduje and the other defendants are facing eight counts, including allegations of a $413,000 bribery scheme, diversion of funds, and misappropriation of N1.38 billion, among other charges.
Reports state that the Federal High Court in Kano had ruled that the Kano Public Compliant and Anti-Corruption Commission lacked jurisdiction to investigate Ganduje over an alleged $5 million bribery video.
Justice Abdullahi Liman, in his judgment, stated that the offense was a federal crime that falls under the purview of the Attorney General of the Federation and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Justice Liman stated that the Kano anti-graft agency had constraints in probing the former governor.
However, on Monday, the state governor, Abba Yusuf, called on the EFCC to disclose the outcome of its investigation into the alleged dollar bribery video involving Ganduje.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sanusi Tofa, Yusuf emphasized that Ganduje should focus on preparing for his trial instead of discussing non-existent shortcomings in the current administration.
“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, according to a writ of summons observed by PUNCH Online on Tuesday, the Kano State Government has initiated a criminal lawsuit naming Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Hafsat Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lesage General Enterprises as respondents. The government has assembled 15 witnesses to testify before the court.
The case is scheduled for April 17, 2024, before Justice Usman Na’aba of the State High Court Number Four.
Confirming this development to Daily Trust, the State Attorney General, Haruna Dederi, stated that the case has been filed, and all involved parties will be duly served.
“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.