The Kano High Court has scheduled the arraignment of the immediate past governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, for April 17, 2024.
Ganduje faces charges related to allegations of bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds, including the acceptance of $413,000 and N1.38bn in bribes.
Confirming the development, Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Dederi, stated, “It is very true. We have filed the case and it’s going to hold on the 17th of April, 2024.”
He also mentioned that Ganduje would be arraigned alongside his wife and six others.
The accused individuals, according to the writ of summon, include Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Hafsat Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lesage General Enterprises.
Highlighting the importance of accountability in governance, Dederi remarked, “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.”
Furthermore, Dederi addressed the jurisdictional aspect of the case, asserting, “He was saying that we can’t prosecute him, forgetting that the offense also falls under the category of the state offenses. It’s not totally a Federal affair and we have even appealed to Justice Liman ruling on that.”
The Kano State Government has expressed readiness to present 15 witnesses to testify before Justice Usman Na’aba of State High Court number four.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.