Ganduje, wife, son to be arraigned April 17 in Kano for bribery

A Kano State High Court has fixed April 17, 2024, for the arraignment of the immediate past governor of the state, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, over bribery allegations.

Alhaji Ganduje will be arraigned alongside his wife, Hafsat Umar, and his son, Umar Abdullahi Umar.

Other defendants in the suit are Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited and Lesage General Enterprises.

They will be arraigned on eight counts bordering on a $413,000 bribery allegations.

They are also accused of diversion and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N1.38 billion, among others.

How it started

It could be recalled that Ganduje was once caught live in a video in an alleged $5 million bribery scandal.

A Federal High Court in Kano, however, ruled that the Kano Public Compliant and Anti-Corruption Commission lacks the power to investigate the former governor in the bribery scandal.

The presiding judge, Justice Abdullahi Liman, while delivering his judgment, had dismissed the case.

Justice Liman ruled that the Kano anti-graft agency has limited power to investigate the former governor.

He said the offence was a federal offence that could be prosecuted by the Attorney General of the Federation and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Kano State Government resurrects the case

The incumbent governor, Abba Yusuf, however, urged the EFCC to release the result of the probe in the dollar bribery video and prosecute Ganduje.

Meanwhile, in the suit filed on Tuesday, the Kano State Government named Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Hafsat Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited and Lesage General Enterprises as respondents.

The plaintiffs also assembled 15 witnesses to testify against the accused before the court.

The case is fixed for April 17, 2024, before Justice Usman Na’aba of the Kano State High Court.

About Ganduje

Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, born on December 25, 1949, is a prominent Nigerian politician.

He served as the governor of Kano State from 2015 to 2023.

Prior to that, he held the position of deputy governor under Rabiu Kwankwaso’s administration twice.

The first was from 1999 to 2003 while the second was from 2011 to 2015.

He is currently a member and national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

His education

Ganduje attended the prestigious Government College, Birnin Kudu.

He later pursued higher education at Ahmadu Bello University and Bayero University Kano.

His academic achievements include a master’s degree in applied educational psychology and a doctorate in Public Administration from the University of Ibadan.

Political accomplishments

As a politician, Ganduje’s leadership roles span various government positions.

He has been actively involved in both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress.

A source said his accomplishments reflect his commitment to public service and governance.

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