APC National Chair Ganduje, Wife, Son, Charged With $413,000, N1.38bn Bribe

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has been charged with an alleged $413,000, N1.38bn bribe.

The Kano State Government filed criminal charges against the immediate past governor.

15 witnesses have been assembled to testify against Ganduje, according to the state government.

Ganduje’s wife Hafsat, and his son, Umar were joined as co-defendants in the charge sheet dated April 3, 2024.

Also listed as defendants were Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd and Lesage General Enterprises.

It would be recalled that Ganduje was accused of misappropriating public funds and allocating plots of land to some members of his immediate family by tye state governor Abba Yusuf on assumption of office.

One of the charges read: “That you, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, sometime between the period of January 10, 2016, or thereabouts, at Kano in the Kano Judicial Division, while serving as the Governor of Kano State and being a public servant in the government of Kano State corruptly asked for and received the sum of $200,000 being benefit for yourself from one of the beneficiaries of contracts awarded by the Kano State Government on your instruction and approval as part of your function as the Governor of Kano State, thereby committed the offence of official corruption, contrary to and punishable under Section 22 of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended), Law No 2 of 2009, Laws of Kano State of Nigeria.”

In the second count, the state government said, Ganduje, on February 10, 2017 “dishonestly and/or corruptly to your own advantage collected a kick-back of the sum of $ 213,000 being money generated from people and entities seeking or holding the execution of Kano State Government contact and or project for the remodelling of Kantin Kwari textile market as a bribe through one of the contractors (agent).”

In another count, the state alleged that Ganduje, between September 2020 and March 2021, “together with one Hafsat Umar (your spouse) and Abubakar Bawuro, a businessman, Safari Textile Ltd, a limited liability company, wholly owned and maintained by the 3rd defendant, agreed to do an illegal act to wit: dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of N1,376,000,000 through account No. 7085982019 belonging to the 3rd defendant being money earmarked and approved for the purchase and supply of face masks and other hospital equipment for the health sector, thereby causing wrongful loss to the people and the government of Kano State and thereby jointly committed the offence of criminal conspiracy contrary to Section 96 and punishable under section 97 of The penal code (as amended) CAP,105, Vol.2. The Laws of Kano State of Nigeria, 1991.”

The Attorney General of the state, Muhuyi Magaji, said he was empowered by Section 211 of the 1999 Constitution and Sections 121(1), 126(b) and 377 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2019, “to apply to prefer the charge attached herewith against the defendants.”

Meanwhile, two committees have been set up by Governor Yusuf to probe the government of Ganduje, over alleged misappropriation of public property, political violence and missing persons in the state.

The governor while inaugurating members of the committees, vowed to bring to book anyone found wanting on conclusion of the probe.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Sanusi Tofa.

The statement noted that the panel are to unravel those behind or involved in the misappropriation of public properties and political violence between 2015 and 2023.

He said, “Political violence is a major setback to democracy worldwide. It leads to loss of lives and properties as well as mistrust on the part of the people and those in power.

“The disturbing cases of political killings especially in 2023 must not be swept under the carpet, this is to ensure we prevent future occurrences.”

The governor, who noted that the move was neither political nor a witch-hunt, charged the commissions not to compromise but to remain faithful to their oath and the people of Kano by ensuring justice for the state.

He added, “We went through your records and we couldn’t find any of you wanting. We believe in you and we expect your full reports in 3 months time.”

While Justice Zuwaira Yusuf was pronounced chairperson of the commission with the responsibility of unravelling players and causes of political violence as well as missing persons, Justice Faruk Lawan sits on the commission saddled with the responsibility of probing misappropriation of public properties and assets during the years under review.