On April 17, 2024, the Kano High Court is scheduled to arraign Abdullahi Ganduje, the former governor of Kano State, on charges related to bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds.
These allegations include the purported acceptance of $413,000 and N1.38 billion in bribes. Alongside Ganduje, his wife and six others will also face arraignment.
Confirmed by the Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Dederi, the accused individuals listed in the writ of summon are Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Hafsat Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lesage General Enterprises.
“It is very true. We have filed the case and it’s going to hold on the 17th of April, 2024. What I cannot confirm is whether he is served or not, but he will definitely be served,” he said.”
The Kano State Government, initiating the criminal suit, has expressed readiness to present 15 witnesses to testify before Justice Usman Na’aba of State High Court number four.
Dederi emphasized the importance of accountability in governance, stating, “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 deterrence to all of us that are also in government now.”
Regarding jurisdiction, Dederi clarified, “He was saying that we can’t prosecute him, forgetting that the offence also falls under the category of the state offences.”