I committed a Federal Offense in Nigeria, only AGF, EFCC can prosecute me for receiving a Bribe of $413,000 cash- Abdullahi GANDUJE, former Kano Governor
…Let incumbent Governor, Yusuf Abba focus on bringing good governance to his people instead of embarking on a futile attempt to drag my name in the mud
*”The bribery allegation against the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress and former governor, Abdullahi Ganduje was an unfortunate and sorry attempt to divert attention away from the fact that Governor Yusuf Abba had nothing on the ground in the state to justify the massive allocations he had received since President Bola Tinubu’s administration began”-Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu
*Kano State High Court issues writ of summon, fixes April 17 to arraign Kano ex-Governor Ganduje, wife, son, six others
*”Abdullahi Ganduje, others will be arraigned on eight counts bordering on a $413,000 bribery allegation, diversion, and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N1.38bn, among others. We have assembled 15 witnesses to testify against the defendants”-Kano State Government
*BY HARUNA IBRAHIM/Anti-Graft Staff Writer, Kano State, NAIJA STANDARD NEWSPAPER
THINGS SEEM TO BE FALLING APART FOR the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress and former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, on Friday, has the Kano State High Court has fixed April 17, 2024 for his appearance for allegedly collecting the sum of FOUR HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($413,000) in bribe from a contractor while as governor of the state then.
Before the court summons, Ganduje claimed Kano State Government does not have the legal rights to prosecute him for the alleged bribery of $413,000.
Ganduje mentioned this in a statement issued on Friday, maintaining that it was only the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that could charge him for the alleged offences.
The former governor therefore urged the incumbent governor, Yusuf Abba, to focus on bringing good governance to his people instead of embarking “on a futile attempt” to drag his name in the mud.
His Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, added that the bribery allegation was a “unfortunate and sorry attempt” to divert attention away from the fact that the governor had nothing on the ground in the state to justify the massive allocations he had received since President Bola Tinubu’s administration began.
Ganduje claimed that the move was the latest attempt by the state administration to smear his name, and that it also demonstrated the governor’s “crass ignorance and disrespect for the rule of law.”
He said, “In their desperate attempt to malign me and my family, they either forgot or probably cannot conduct themselves by the dictates of the law. They failed to take judicial notice of the recent pronouncement of the Federal High Court in Kano, which ruled that the so-called offence I am being accused of is a federal offence that can only be prosecuted by the Attorney General of the Federation and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“Rather than join issues with my traducers in Kano over the trumped-up charges levelled against me, I would implore them to redirect their energies towards easing the plights of our people in Kano.
“They still have the opportunity to revert to my blueprint for the sustainable growth and development of Kano State. It is not yet late in the day for them to emulate my developmental strides. They can still salvage the situation as my tenure was devoid of any wrongdoing.”
Continuing, the APC chairman admonished that it would have been in the best interest of the state to extend the deadline of the probe to flag off from 1999 to date.
“As the saying goes, he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. It shouldn’t be seen as targeted at my administration alone. It should not be seen to be borne out of malice, vindictiveness, and ill will. It should be for public good and interest.
“We conducted the affairs of governance in the state openly and transparently during my tenure. We don’t need to be seeking direction from our masters to do what is proper,” he stressed.
*Court fixes April 17 to arraign Kano ex-Governor Ganduje, wife, son
A Kano State High Court has fixed April 17 to arraign the immediate past governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje, his wife, son, and five others, for alleged bribery.
Ganduje alongside his wife, Hafsat Ganduje, their son, Umar Abdullahi Umar and five others are to be arraigned on eight-count charges bordering on dollar bribery allegation, misappropriation and diversion of public funds running into billions.
In a writ of summon sighted by newsmen, the matter was fixed for 17th April 2024 and before Justice Usman Malam Na’aba of State High Court.
Recall that the Kano State government has filed a fresh charge against the former governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat Umar and six others before the State high court.
Six other defendants joined in the fresh suit include, Ganduje’s son, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd and Lesage General Enterprises.
Kano State Government in the suit filed against the 8 defendants also said it has assembled 15 witnesses to testify against the defendants.
Ganduje and the others will be arraigned on eight counts bordering on a $413,000 bribery allegation, diversion, and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N1.38bn, among others.
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