Kano High Court has fixed 17th April 2024 to arraign the former Governor and National Chairman, of All Progressive Congress, APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, along with his wife and six others over allegations of bribery and corruption.
Ganduje is to be arraigned alongside others on eight-count charges concerning dollar bribery allegation, diversion and misappropriation of funds that include alleged $413,000 and N1.38bn bribery, among others.
In a criminal suit filed against the 8 respondents, the Kano State Government said it has assembled 15 witnesses on the matter fixed for 17th April 2024 which is before Justice Usman Malam Na’aba of State High Court number four.
The Kano State Government has dragged Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat Umar, his Son Umar Abdullahi, and five others to the court over alleged corruption charges, misappropriation, and diversion of funds during his eight-year tenure in office.
The eight corruption charges were contained in a charged sheet dated 3rd April, 2024 with a 15 prosecution witnesses list attached.
According to the lawsuit the other respondents are Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lesage General Enterprises.
The lead charge reads “That you, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje Sometimes between the period of January 10th, 2016 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 corruptly asked for and received the sum of $ 200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand United State Dollars), 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 offense 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 N02 of 2009, Laws of Kano State of Nigeria.”
The second head of the charge according to the lawsuit “That you, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje Sometimes between the period of February 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 agreed to do or caused to be done an illegal act, to wit, dishonestly and/or corruptly to your advantage collected a kickback of the sum of $ 213,000 (Two Hundred And Thirteen Thousand United State Dollars.”
The matter fixed for 17th April 2024 is before Justice Usman Malam Na’aba of Kano State High Court number four.
Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano
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