Ganduje faces new corruption charges by Anti-Graft Commission
The Kano State Anti-Corruption and Public Complaints Commission has announced that it has brought forth fresh allegations of corruption and maladministration against former governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme, the Chairman of the anti-graft commission, Muhuyi Magaji, stated that the current accusations are just the beginning of a much larger issue. Magaji revealed that they are currently investigating a case involving the misappropriation of N51.3 billion in local government funds, which were reportedly diverted to other individuals instead of being utilised for their intended purpose.
Magaji further alleged that during the final month of Ganduje’s administration tenure in May 2023, an alarming N1 billion was consistently withdrawn from the state coffers and transferred to Bureau de Change operators, rather than being allocated for the designated road renovation projects.
Highlighting additional instances, Magaji shared that N1 billion allocated for road renovations and N4 billion intended for an agricultural company were diverted from government accounts for unauthorised purposes. These cases have been presented before the court for review.
Despite facing backlash and being labeled as ‘stubborn’ in certain circles, Magaji maintained that the commission holds the authority to investigate claims of corruption and mismanagement within the Ganduje administration, emphasising the importance of upholding accountability and transparency in governance.
Magaji said though he was appointed by Ganduje to head the agency, he won’t hesitate to prosecute alleged corruption by the immediate-past administration in the state.
READ ALSO: Ganduje, wife, 6 others, to appear in court over bribery, diversion
He said, “Incidentally, His Excellency, the former governor was the one that appointed me in 2015 to to head the agency and I was re-appointed in 2020 for another five-year term. Basically, we have an institution in the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission that is devoid political activities and dedicated to fight corruption, check maladministration and fight injustice.”
Magaji said he started investigating the administration of Ganduje when he was Kano governor. He said there should be no sacred cows in the anti-corruption fight in the state.
“That is the beauty of what we are doing. In Nigeria, we are not supposed to have those that will be shielded. Even, we that are in the anti-corruption agency, our integrity has been tested. And that is how it is supposed to be. Anybody that is charged before the court of law, let him go and answer.”
Meanwhile, the Kano High Court would arraign Ganduje on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, on charges bordering on allegations of bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds, including the purported acceptance of $413,000 and N1.38bn in bribes.
Ganduje, who was Kano governor between May 2015 and May 2023, has been under pressure to resign his position as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The situation took a new twist on Monday with some APC executives in Ganduje’s ward in Kano suspending him and insisting that he exonerates himself of corruption charges levelled against him by the state government. However, the state executives of the party dismissed the suspension and sanctioned the ward officials involved.
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