The Kano State Government has dragged the immediate past Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his wife Hafsat Umar, and five others to court over alleged corruption charges, misappropriation, and diversion of funds during his eight-year tenure in office.
The eight corruption charges running into billions of naira were contained in a charged sheet dated 3rd April, 2024 with a 15 prosecution witnesses list attached.
According to the lawsuit the other respondents are Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lesage General Enterprises.
The lead charge reads “That you, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje sometimes between the period of January 10th, 2016 or thereabout 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 (Two Hundred Thousand United State Dollars), 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 offense 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 N02 of 2009, Laws of Kano State of Nigeria.”
The second head of the charge according to the lawsuit “That you, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, sometimes between the period of February 2017 or thereabout, 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 agreed to do or caused to be done an illegal act, to wit, dishonestly and/or corruptly to your advantage collected a kickback of the sum of $ 213,000 (Two Hundred And Thirteen Thousand United State Dollars), being money generated from people and entities seeking or holding the execution of Kano State Government contract and or project for the remodeling of Kantin Kwari textile market as a bribe through one of the contractors (agent) thereby committed the offense of official corruption contrary to and punishable under Section 22 of The Kano State Public Complaints and Anticorruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended), Law N02 of 2009, Laws of Kano State of Nigeria.” In the third head of the charge, the former Governor, his wife, one Abubakar Bawuro, a Businessman and Safari Textile Ltd, alleged to have agreed to do an illegal act to wit:” dishonestly converted to your use the sum of (one billion three hundred and seventy-six million Naira) through account No. 7085982019 belonging to the 3rd Defendant.
“The 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 government of Kano State and thereby jointly committed the offense 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.”
Other charges bordered on diversion of funds, criminal conspiracy, misappropriation criminal breach of trust among others.
Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano
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