The Kano state government is set to arraign its former governor and current chairman of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, in court over alleged misappropriation of state funds and diversion of landed properties belonging to the state.
An arraignment summons shows that Ganduje is to be arraigned alongside his wife, Hafsat, and six others, on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged dollar bribery, as well as diversion and misappropriation of funds, including $413,000 and ₦1.38 billion.
Other respondents in the suit are Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash properties Ltd, Safari textiles Ltd and Lesage general enterprises.
The kano state government, in the criminal charge filed against Ganduje and the other respondents, said it has assembled 15 witnesses.
The matter has been adjourned to April 17th, 2024, for arraignment before Justice Malam Na’aba of the kano state high court, in Kano.
One of the counts allege that Abdullahi Umar Ganduje Sometimes between the period of January 10, 2016 or there about, 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 himself from one of the beneficiaries of contracts awarded by the Kano State Government on his instruction and approval as part of his function as the Governor of Kano State.
The document said such action amounted to official corruption contrary to and punishable under Section 22 of The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended), Law No2 of 2009, Laws of Kano State of Nigeria.
The count document reads further: “That you, Abdulahi Umar Ganduje Sometimes between the period of February 10, 2017 or there about, 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 Respondents agreed to do or caused to be done an illegal act, to wit, 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).”
