Abdulazeez Ganduje, the estranged son of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, paid a solidarity visit to the chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, Muhuyi Rimingado, on Wednesday evening.
According to sources, Abdulazeez visited the chairman to encourage his anti-corruption drive and support the charges filed against his father, mother, and brother by the commission.
Abdulazeez, the eldest son of Mr. Ganduje, has reportedly been at odds with his family over allegations of corruption. In September 2021, he petitioned his mother, Hafsat Ganduje, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged corruption. In the petition, Abdulazeez claimed that he helped facilitate the acquisition of some plots of land in Kano with hundreds of thousands of US dollars and at least N35 million as a “facilitation commission” and paid the sum in dollars to his mother.
However, the property developer later discovered that the plots of land had been allocated to other buyers, and Abdulazeez requested a refund. The Kano anti-corruption commission subsequently dragged Mr. Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat Umar, his son Umar Abdullahi Umar, and five others to court on eight counts of corruption, misappropriation, diversion of funds, and other charges, totaling billions of naira.
One of the counts alleges that Abdullahi Umar Ganduje corruptly asked for and received $200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) as a benefit for himself from one of the beneficiaries of contracts awarded by the Kano State Government. Another count alleges that the former governor collected a kickback of $213,000 (Two Hundred And Thirteen Thousand United State Dollars) as a bribe through one of the contractors for the remodeling of Kantin Kwari textile market.
Abdulazeez has also reportedly complained to the commission chairman that his name was unlawfully removed as a director of one of the companies facing trial. He bitterly lamented how he was removed without his consent. The Kano anti-corruption commission has yet to comment on the matter.
