Kano Gov’t Files Fresh Charge Against Ganduje, Ex-Commissioner For Justice

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s government of Kano State has initiated new legal proceedings against the former governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje.

In the legal document, case No. K/143c/24, the state’s legal team accused Ganduje and the former Justice Commissioner, Musa Lawan, of engaging in criminal conspiracy and stealing funds, which are violations of Section 308 and are subject to punishment under Section 309 of the Penal Code (as revised) in the Laws of Kano State, Nigeria.

The state’s legal team also accused Ganduje and Lawan of misusing their positions for personal gain.

According to the legal document, the state intends to call forth four witnesses to testify.

A specific date for the trial has not yet been established.

Naija News understands that Ganduje, currently the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), his wife Hafsat, and six others are scheduled to appear in court on Thursday to face charges related to alleged bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds amounting to billions of naira.

The development is coming after a notice of trial served on the respondents through substituted means by order of the court.

A Kano State High Court granted the order on June 5, 2024, allowing the state to serve the seven respondents through substituted service, which was subsequently executed via advertisements in two national newspapers on June 6, 2024.

The respondents in the case include Abdullahi Ganduje (1st respondent), his wife Hafsat (2nd respondent), Abubakar Bawuro (3rd respondent), Umar Abdullahi Umar (4th respondent), Jibrilla Muhammad (5th respondent), Safari Textiles Ltd (7th respondent), and Lesage General Enterprises (8th respondent).

Justice Amina Adamu, who presided over the case, granted the order following an application by Zahradeen Kofar-Mata, counsel for the state government, representing the lead prosecution counsel, Ya’u Adamu.