The Kano State Government has filed criminal charges against the immediate past governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, over alleged $413,000, N1.38bn bribery.
The state said it had assembled
15 witnesses to testify against Ganduje.
Joined as co-defendants in the
charge sheet dated April 3, 2024, sighted by our correspondent on Thursday,
were Ganduje’s wife Hafsat, and his son, Umar.
Also listed as defendants were
Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd and Lesage
General Enterprises.
Governor Abba Yusuf had on
assumption of office accused Ganduje of misappropriating public funds and
allocating plots of land to some members of his immediate family.
One of the charges read: “That
you, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, sometime between the period of January 10, 2016 or
thereabouts, at Kano in the Kano Judicial Division, while serving as the
Governor of Kano State and being a public servant in the government of Kano
State corruptly asked for and received the sum of $200,000 being benefit for
yourself from one of the beneficiaries of contracts awarded by the Kano State
Government on your instruction and approval as part of your function as the
Governor of Kano State, thereby committed the offence of official corruption, contrary
to and punishable under Section 22 of the Kano State Public Complaints and
Anti-corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended), Law No 2 of 2009, Laws of
Kano State of Nigeria.”
In the second count, the state
government said, Ganduje, on February 10, 2017 “dishonestly and/or corruptly to
your own advantage collected a kick-back of the sum of $ 213,000 being money
generated from people and entities seeking or holding the execution of Kano
State Government contact and or project for the remodeling of Kantin Kwari
textile market as a bribe through one of the contractors (agent).”
In another count, state alleged
that Ganduje, between September 2020 and march 2021, “together with one Hafsat
Umar (your spouse) and Abubakar Bawuro, a businessman, Safari Textile Ltd, a
limited liability company, wholly owned and maintained by the 3rd defendant,
agreed to do an illegal act to wit: dishonestly converted to your own use the
sum of N1,376,000,000 through account No. 7085982019 belonging to the 3rd
defendant being money earmarked and approved for the purchase and supply of
face masks and other hospital equipment for the health sector, thereby causing
wrongful loss to the people and the government of Kano State and thereby
jointly committed the offence of criminal conspiracy contrary to Section 96 and
punishable under section 97 of The penal code (as amended) CAP,105, Vol.2. The
Laws of Kano State of Nigeria, 1991.”
The Kano State’s Attorney
General, Muhuyi Magaji, said he was empowered by Section 211 of the 1999 Constitution
and Sections 121(1), 126(b) and 377 of the Administration of Criminal Justice
Law, 2019, “to apply to prefer the charge attached herewith against the
defendants.”
Meanwhile, the Governor Yusuf
also set up two committees to probe the government of Ganduje, over alleged
misappropriation of public property, political violence and missing persons in
the state.
While inaugurating members of
the committees, the governor vowed to bring to book anyone found wanting on
conclusion of the probe.
This was contained in a
statement signed by the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Sanusi Tofa.
It will be recalled that
Governor Yusuf had vowed to recover all public property allegedly stolen by the
administration of his predecessor.
The panels, according to the
statement, are to unravel those behind or involved in the misappropriation of
public properties and political violence between 2015 and 2023.
Tofa quoted the governor as
recalling his inaugural promises of investigating the misappropriation of
public assets, unravelling and prosecuting the culprits.
He said, “Political violence is
a major setback to democracy worldwide. It leads to loss of lives and
properties as well as mistrust on the part of the people and those in power.
“The disturbing cases of
political killings especially in 2023 must not be swept under the carpet, this
is to ensure we prevent future occurrences”.
While Justice Zuwaira Yusuf was
pronounced chairperson of the commission with the responsibility of unraveling
players and causes of political violence as well as missing persons, Justice
Faruk Lawan sits on the commission saddled with the responsibility of probing
misappropriation of public properties and assets during the years under review.
The governor, who noted that
the move was neither political nor a witch-hunt, charged the commissions not to
compromise but to remain faithful to their oath and the people of Kano by ensuring
justice for the state.
He added, “We went through your
records and we couldn’t find any of you wanting. We believe in you and we
expect your full reports in 3 months’ time.
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