Confidential court papers, recently accessed by THE WHISTLER, disclose the Kano State Government’s strategy to use the testimonies of 15 witnesses in a corruption lawsuit against ex-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, his spouse Hafsat Umar, their offspring Umar Abdullahi Umar, and four other individuals.
The lawsuit comprises eight charges, all pointing to a network of corrupt practices. The first charge claims that Ganduje, during his tenure as governor from 2015 to 2023, unethically solicited and accepted $200,000 from a recipient of a state government contract. The second charge implicates him in receiving a $213,000 bribe from a contractor responsible for the renovation of the Kantin Kwari textile market in Kano.
In the third and fourth charges, Ganduje and others are indicted for criminal conspiracy and breach of trust involving N1.376bn set aside for the procurement of face masks and other medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is alleged that Ganduje, his wife Hafsat, and businessman Abubakar Bawuro misappropriated these funds for personal gain.
Further accusations in the fifth and sixth charges allege that Ganduje, in collaboration with his son Abdullahi Umar, conspired to unlawfully allocate 501 plots of state-owned land to a family-owned company. The revenue from the land sales, totaling 700 million Naira, was purportedly misappropriated for their benefit.
The Kano State Government intends to present a forensic expert among its witnesses, who will verify a widely circulated video allegedly showing Ganduje accepting bribes from a contractor during his governorship.
Additionally, several contractors will testify about their alleged coercion into giving Ganduje a portion of the contract funds awarded to them by the former governor’s administration. A Department of State Services (DSS) officer, Hussain Muhammad Dan Borno, will clarify his appearance in the alleged bribery video that depicts Ganduje receiving bundles of dollars from an apparent contractor.
Other witnesses include a police inspector, Muhammad Nuhu, who will share the results of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission’s investigation, and an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission officer, Abdullahi Mamman, who will present evidence gathered during their investigation.
The following are the eight charges brought against Ganduje and others:
FIRST CHARGE Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, at some point between January 10th, 2016, while serving as the Governor of Kano State and being a public servant in the government of Kano State, is accused of corruptly soliciting and receiving the sum of $200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) for personal benefit from one of the beneficiaries of contracts awarded by the Kano State Government under his instruction and approval. This act is considered an 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 No2 of 2009, Laws of Kano State of Nigeria.
Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, at some point around February 10th, 2017, while serving as the Governor of Kano State and being a public servant in the government of Kano State, is accused of agreeing to or causing an illegal act, namely, dishonestly and/or corruptly collecting a kickback of the sum of $213,000 (Two Hundred And Thirteen Thousand United State Dollars) from individuals and entities seeking or holding the execution of a Kano State Government contract for the remodeling of the Kantin Kwari textile market as a bribe through one of the contractors. This act is considered an 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).
