Around 40 police officers who were providing security and assisting in investigations at the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission have been recalled by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.Â
This decision comes amidst ongoing probes into allegations of corruption involving Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The withdrawal order was issued by the IGP to the State Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel.
A text message was circulated to the affected officers instructing them to return to the Command headquarters immediately.
Those handling high-profile cases were directed to hand over their responsibilities to the Head of Operations.
According to a reliable source within the commission, some of these officers were aiding in anti-corruption investigations, providing security at the commission’s premises, and safeguarding seized properties under investigation.
 The withdrawal has left the commission vulnerable, especially given its ongoing efforts to investigate corruption allegations against a prominent political figure like Ganduje.
One unnamed source expressed frustration, highlighting the irony of increased security around Ganduje while security is withdrawn from the anti-corruption commission.
The source mentioned a previous instance where security was beefed up around former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, only to now witness the withdrawal of security from the anti-corruption commission.
Efforts to reach the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, for comment, were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
Ganduje, along with his wife, son, and five others, faces multiple charges including corruption, misappropriation, and diversion of funds amounting to billions of naira.
Among the charges is an accusation that Ganduje, while serving as Governor of Kano State, received $200,000 in bribes from a contractor, as well as allegations of collecting kickbacks totaling $213,000 from entities seeking contracts with the state government.
The count reads: “That you, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje Sometimes between the period of February 10, 2017, or thereabout, 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 kickback of the sum of $213,000 (Two Hundred And Thirteen Thousand United State Dollars) 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).”
The charges are said to contravene the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission Law 2008, as amended.
