Former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje to be Arraigned on Bribery Charges

The Kano State Government is gearing up for a legal battle as it prepares to arraign the immediate past governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje, on charges related to bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds.

Scheduled for April 17, 2024, the arraignment before Justice Usman Na’aba of State High Court number four will see Ganduje and six others, including his wife, stand trial.

The accusations stem from alleged acceptance of $413,000 and N1.38 billion in bribes, among other financial irregularities. Among those named in the writ of summons are Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Hafsat Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lesage General Enterprises.

Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Dederi, confirmed the impending legal proceedings and emphasized the government’s commitment to accountability in governance.

Dederi stated, “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.”

In preparation for the trial, the Kano State Government has declared its readiness to present 15 witnesses to testify against the accused.

Addressing concerns about jurisdiction raised by Ganduje, Dederi clarified that the alleged offenses fall under state jurisdiction, despite attempts to argue otherwise.