Tag: Ganduje

The Kano state government has said those who invaded the State High Court during the nationwide protest carted away some of the documents used in the corruption trial of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

Kano state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, confirmed this to journalists when he paid a visit to the court for an on-the-spot assessment of the damages.

He was accompanied by the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Isah Dederi, the Chief Registrar of the High Court, Abdullahi Ado Bayero, and other high-ranking judiciary officials.

In a statement made available to journalists by the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Governor Yusuf described the incident as a “masterminded and stage-managed mission” aimed at disrupting the ongoing corruption cases against Ganduje, who is currently serving as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“It is very unfortunate that enemies of Kano State hired undesirable elements to vandalize one of the historic public buildings with a mission of averting corruption charges against the Acting National Chairman of APC and former governor of the state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his family, and aides,” the statement read.

The vandals reportedly destroyed several units within the High Court, including the office of the state Chief Judge.

The damages are estimated to have cost more than one billion naira, as the assailants stole office equipment, destroyed office spaces, and set fire to cars and other materials crucial to the administration of justice.

Read Also: Kano suffered worst form of corruption under Ganduje, says Yusuf

Governor Yusuf called on the youths of Kano State to refrain from engaging in violence at the behest of detractors, urging them instead to focus on skills acquisition for a better future.

“I urge our youth to resist being used as tools for violence. The future is in your hands, and you should concentrate on skills acquisition for a better tomorrow,” the governor said.

He assured the public that the judiciary, as the last hope of the common man, would be protected at all costs. He directed the immediate rehabilitation of the court building and the deployment of enhanced security measures to ensure effective justice delivery.

“We will not relent in securing the lives and property of the people of Kano State. The judiciary must be protected to ensure justice for all,” he stated.

The governor also expressed his sympathies to the Chief Judge, Dije Abdu Aboki, and the entire judiciary for the unfortunate incident, urging them to remain resilient in their pursuit of justice.

“I commiserate with the Chief Judge and the entire judiciary. We must brace up to cover what was lost in the court proceedings for the benefit of the common man,” he added.

He concluded by thanking the people of Kano for their continued support and cooperation with the current administration, praying for continued peace, stability, prosperity, and economic development of the state.

Kano state government has filed N57.4 billion fraud charges against the immediate past governor of the state and APC national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, his commissioner for local government, Murtala Garo and two other persons.

The charge contains allegations bordering on criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, false statement and criminal misappropriation.

The prosecution is to present no fewer than 143 witnesses during the trial, which is expected to commence in few days.

In the four-count charge sheet No.K/148c/24, the Abba Yusuf administration accuses Ganduje and the three others of being entrusted with the receipt and management of the 44 Local Government’s statutory allocations usually remitted to the State Joint Local Governments account from the Federation account.

The plaintiff also alleged that the accused persons unlawfully and criminally diverted the total sum of Fifty Seven Billion Four Hundred and Thirty Three Million Nine Hundred and Eighty One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixteen Naira (N57,433,981,816.00) through several personal accounts of Local Government’s Cashiers and other Personal and Cooperate Accounts.

Read Also: Ganduje seeks collective efforts to strengthen judiciary

The state government also accused them of transforming the funds into cash of United State Dollars and Nigerian Naira which they allegedly criminally appropriated same for  personal benefits out of which they fraudulently used the proceed, converted same into acquiring properties worth Billions of Naira including Kano Cotton Ginnery at Challawa Kano City, 200 Hundred  Bed capacity Hotel at Badawa Nassarawa Local Government Area Kano.

They are also accused of using the proceed to acquire a service apartment at Murtala Muhammad Way, a commercial apartment at Akoya Oxygen – x20868 Dubai in Tigerwood and plot 2201 Floor 22 Damac Height, Marsa Dubai Marina,  A Multi Billion Naira Hotel at Jabi, Abuja.

Others are: Filling Stations at Gwarzo Road Kano, Filling Station at Eastern Bypass Kano for their own  personal benefit causing wrongful gain for themselves and wrongful loss to the good people of the State, and the 44 Local Government Areas of Kano State.

“The prosecution will at the trial of the Defendants adduce evidence to show that the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants have used their offices in betrayal of their official trust between the period of 2020 to 2023 for self-enrichment,

“Using several personal accounts of Local Government’s Cashiers and other Personal and Cooperate Accounts in which monies are diverted from the statutory allocation of the 44 Local Government Areas of Kano State are corruptly and fraudulently converted to acquire properties at both Kano, Abuja and even Dubai,” the trial sheet said.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje,  has urged political leaders to collaboratively strengthen the judiciary, uphold the rule of law, and protect the principles of democracy.

Ganduje gave the advice on Thursday in Abuja at the first Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) roundtable with the theme: ‘The Role of the Judiciary in Nigeria’s Democratic Sustainability”.

He said that Nigeria’s judiciary had played a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s democratic landscape.

Ganduje, however, said that in playing such a critical role, the judiciary faced various challenges such as inadequate funding, delays in justice delivery, and judicial independence, amongst others.

“In spite of these challenges, I believe that there are opportunities for reforms that would further improve and strengthen the judiciary, as well as enhance its role in democratic sustainability.

“I believe one of the key pillars of a vibrant democracy is an independent judiciary, therefore, stakeholders in the democratic process must ensure that the judiciary remains free from external influences and interference,’’ he said.

In the communiqué issued after the roundtable, the participants urged Nigerian courts to take a hard look at some of the principles of electoral jurisprudence aiding and abetting rigging and imposition of people duly rejected at the polls.

Read Also: Protest: Present turbulence will soon be over, Ganduje assures Nigerians

They added that some archaic precedents and principles that put roadblocks to democratic growth and development must be departed from and a new set of rules to guide the political behaviours of the political class must be set.

The participants called on the courts to emphasise the superiority of Constitutional provisions and Acts of Parliament.

They added that electronic evidence in section 84 of the Evidence Act and the use of technology must be given prominent pride of place.

According to them, this is to avoid old and analogue requirements of calling polling units by polling units evidence in proof of electoral malpractices.

“Legislation should nip in the bud the issue of laxity and latitude given to INEC to choose whichever method of transmission of results it wants;

“But adhere to a mandatory, uniform, clear and unarguable duty and obligation to be carried out by INEC via a clean and unambiguous status,’’ the stakeholders said.

They also advised the Nigerian judiciary to maintain a very great distance from politics and politicians..

“To enhance resolution of disputes in Political parties, there should be legislation to entrench fixed Arbitration panels in Political Parties to deal with internal disputes in Political parties.

“Politicians should not be involved in the recruitment process of Judges.

“Accordingly, recruitment of judicial officers must be carried out transparently, meritoriously and without bias to have the best hands, with impeccable integrity, which will in turn rub off on the quality of judgments,’’ they said.

(NAN)

The national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has assured Nigerians that the present turbulence facing our country will soon be over.

He also said President Bola Tinubu is working so hard to turn things around and pilot the economy out of the woods.

Ganduje gave the assurance when a 5-man delegation from APC USA paid him a courtesy visit at the national secretariat on Wednesday.

The APC leader noted that whenever there is a reform, there is bound to be turbulence, adding that the present hardship is not peculiar to Nigeria, as many developed economies of the world are facing turbulence in one way or the other.

“There’s no doubt, as a developing country, even the so-called developed economists, they have their turbulence in one way or the other.

“So, it’s not surprising that Nigeria is having its own shell of the problem. This is not the first time.

“Whenever there is a reform agenda, obstacles must be on the way, as a result, people must suffer in one way or the other.

Read Also: Ganduje: Anambra due to be at the mainstream of Nigeria’s politics

“But, in the long run, everything will be according to the plan. We are aware that our president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, came in to introduce reforms”.

Ganduje then lamented that institutions in Nigeria are weak, saying, “Unless you have strong institutions, you will find it difficult to implement whatever good policies you have.

He however noted that the President is doing all that’s needed to be done, “He’s working very hard on the economy and very soon we will see positive results”.

The leader of the APC USA team, Prof. Adesegun Labinjo, said the leadership is at the national secretariat to support Mr. President, the party, and the country amid the protest.

“In the face of all the turmoil that the sponsor of the ongoing protests projected will happen or is happening in Nigeria, we’re here to support our President, Dr. Ganduje, our party, and its leadership”, Prof. Labinjo.

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abdullahi Ganduje has said that Anambra State is long overdue due to be at the mainstream of national politics.

He stated this yesterday while inaugurating the state’s consultative council of the party in Abuja.

Ganduje noted that the state is one of the most strategic in the country that should not be left in the hands of opposition parties.

To this end, he urged party leaders and members to ensure the defeat of Governor Chkwuma Soludo in next year’s governorship election. The APC leader argued that it was politically incorrect for a region with five states to be controlled by four different parties.

The APC has two states in the region, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hold sway each in the remaining three states.

Ganduje admonished party faithful that the defeat of the APGA-led administration in the governorship would be a step in the right direction to giving a bargaining power to the region in the mainstream politics.

He said: “With this division, what is your bargaining power in politics at the centre? What is your political investment? This is the crux of the matter. It is time the region come to the centre of Nigerian politics.

“Once we can leverage politically for APC, we assure you that what happened in second republic would also happen to the Southeast.

“I beckon on all to come out strong and support the repositioning of this party, for the overall interest of members, and the betterment of the people of Anambra.”

Read Also: IGP to policemen: be honest, transparent

Deputy National Organising Secretary of the party, Nze Chidi Duru, expressed confidence that the party is now in good stead to upstage APGA as its ranks is now more united and solid.

State chairman Chief Bazil Ejike enjoined the council members to begin to draw up strategies that will enable the party to collectively confront the task of taking over the seat of governance in 2025.

“It is pertinent to reiterate that the party has a target, which is to take over the Agu Awka Government House. All hands must be on deck, especially in this Council, which is a boardroom of sorts for incubation of ideas for the good and benefit of the Party,” Ejike said.

The Kano state government has filed fresh charges against the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, before a Kano State High Court.

Ganduje was governor of Kano State from May 29, 2015, to May 29, 2023.

The state government, in a suitcase No. K/143c/24, accused Ganduje and his former Commissioner of Justice, Musa Lawan, of conspiracy and misappropriation of public funds.

Ganduje (1st defendant) and Lawan, who is the 2nd defendant in the case, are being accused, among other things, of “criminal conspiracy, contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97 and criminal breach of trust contrary to Section 311 and punishable under Section 315.”

The two are also accused of “criminal misappropriation contrary to Section 308 and punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code (as amended) CAP 105, Vol. 2, the Laws of Kano State of Nigeria.”

The prosecution is to present four witnesses and evidence to prove their allegations.

The charge sheet reads: “That you (Ganduje and Lawan) dishonestly, fraudulently and without reasonable justification, in the abuse of your respective offices, conspired between yourselves, misappropriated, diverted and converted the sum of Two Hundred and Forty million naira (N240 million) to finance purely personal and private case for your own personal and private benefit thereby causing wrongful gain to yourselves and wrongful loss to the Government and people of Kano State.”

Read Also: Court fixes judgment for Sept 18 in suit seeking Ganduje’s sack

“The prosecution intended to present 4 witnesses and will at the trial of the Defendants adduce evidence to show that the 1st defendant in betrayal of his official trust, took advantage of his privileged position as the Governor and Chief Executive Officer of Kano State to secure personal gains.”

“That between the period of November 2022 or thereabout, Conspired with his subordinate, the 2nd Defendant who is in blatant display of abuse of office initiated a memo to the 1st Defendant to approve the release of Two Hundred and Forty Million Naira for the purpose of civil litigation in respect of the staff of Kano State who were being accused by the EFCC which in reality the funds were converted to secure order against the EFCC not to investigate bribery and corruption allegation against the 1st Defendant in purely private and personal matter.”

A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled judgment for September 18 in a suit seeking the removal of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje.

Justice Inyang Ekwo chose  the date on Friday after lawyers to parties in the case adopted their written arguments and made final submissions.

In his final submission on Thursday, plaintiff’s lawyer, Benjamin Favour urged the court to hold in his client’s favour and grant all the reliefs sought.

Lawyers to the defendants – Abdul Adamu (for Ganduj); Isiaka Dikko (SAN) for the APC and Ahmed Mohammed for INEC urged the court to dismiss the suit for being unmeritorious.

The defendants queried the plaintiff’s legal capacity to institute the suit.

The plaintiff, in the main suit, wants the court to, among others, restrain Ganduje from further parading himself as the Chairman of the APC.

It also wants the court to issue an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to accord recognition to all actions taken by the APC, including congresses, primaries and nominations, since Ganduje became APC Chairman on August 3, 2023.

The plaintiff is contending among others,  that Ganduje is occupying the office of the APC Chairman illegally, not being from a state in the North Central geo-political zone.

The plaintiff’s argued that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC breached the party’s constitution when it appointed Ganduje, from Kano State in the North West geo- political zone to replace Senator Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State in the North Central geo-political zone.

It also argued that Ganduje’s appointment to replace Abdullahi was contrary to Article 31.5(1) f of the APC constitution and ultra vires the powers of the National Executive Committee of the party

The plaintiff added that by the true  interpretation of Article 31.5(1) of the APC. Constitution 2013 (as amended), the party is bound to comply with the procedure for the replacement of an officer in the event of a vacancy and ought to appoint a member from Nasarawa State in the North Central geo- political zone into the office of the Chairman of the party.

Read Also: Ganduje’s probe: FHC asks Kano judges to resign from inquiry panels

The plaintiff wants the court to among others, declare that by Article 20(1) of the APC constitution 2013 as amended, Ganduje cannot be appointed as the National Chairman of the party other than through democratic conducted elections and that his current occupation of the office is illegal.

It equally seeks a declaration that by the provisions of Article 13 of the APC constitution 2013 (as amended), the party’s National Convention is the final authority of the party which has the power to elect or remove National Officers of the party including the National Chairman of the party.

The plaintiff also wants a declaration that the party’s National Executive Committee lacked the power to appoint any person to the office of the Chairman.

It is equally  praying the court for the following orders:

*An order setting aside the appointment of the first defendant (Ganduje) as the Chairman of the second defendant (APC),same having not followed duly laid down procedures of the second defendant as enshrined in the second defendant’s constitution.

*An order directing the third defendant (INEC) not to recognize all actions taken (including, but not limited to party congresses, primaries and nominations) by the second defendant during the tenure of chairmanship of the first defendant, from  August 3, 2023 till date, same being actions done under an illegal Chairman.

*An order directing the third defendant to compel the second defendant to conduct a fresh convention for the sake of electing a National Chairman or appoint another National Chairman from Nasarawa State from the North Central geo-political zone in line with Article 31.5(i) of the Constitution of the All Progressives Congress, 2013 (as amended).

On why his group went to court, Zazzaga, said it is intended to ensure fairness and justice, because  the party has continued to ignore his group’s members request that the right thing be done.

He said the progress of the APC is still their ultimate desire and urged the party to immediately do the needful to avoid any form of internal revolt that would give their opponents advantage over them. 

Zazzaga added that doing the needful will avert any undesirable uncertainty for the party in the nearest future, arguing that Ganduje’s occupation of the position of the party’s National Chairman was not in the interest of the APC.

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, fixed Sept. 18 for judgment in a suit seeking the removal of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date after counsel to the plaintiff, Benjamin Davou; and lawyers to the defence adopted their processes and made their submission for and against the case.

The plaintiff; the North Central APC Forum, led by Saleh Zazzaga, had filed the suit to queried the propriety of Ganduje’s appointment as the Chairman of the APC when he is not from the North Central geo-political zone.

In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024, the plaintiff listed Ganduje, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

Read Also: Ganduje’s probe: FHC asks Kano judges to resign from inquiry panels

The plaintiff wants the court to, among others, restrain Ganduje from further parading himself as the chairman of the APC.

It also prays the court to issue an order directing INEC not to accord recognition to all actions taken by the APC, including congresses, primaries and nominations, since Ganduje became APC Chairman on August 3, 2023.

The plaintiff is contending among others, that Ganduje is occupying the office of the APC chairman illegally, not being from a state in the North Central geo-political zone.

It argued that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC breached the party’s constitution when it appointed Ganduje, from Kano State in the North West geo- political zone to replace Sen. Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State in the North Central geo-political zone.

It also argued that Ganduje’s appointment to replace Abdullahi was contrary to Article 31.5(1) f of the APC constitution and ultra vires the powers of the NEC of the party, among other reliefs.

Upon resumed hearing, Davou, while adopting the process filed on behalf of the plaintiff, prayed the court to grant their reliefs.

Ganduje’s lawyer, Abdul Adamu; APC’s counsel, Isiaka Dikko, SAN, and their counterpart in INEC, Ahmed Mohammed, while adopting their separate counter affidavits and preliminary objections, urged the court to dismiss the suit

Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until Sept. 18 for judgment.

(NAN)

The ruling party in Kano state, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), on Friday, June 28, accused the immediate past governor, Abdullahi Ganduje of appointing Aminu Bayero and the other four dethroned first-class emirs for his political gains.

NNPP chairman, Hashimu Dungurawa, said the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman had split the Kano emirate into five and appointed five emirs in pursuance of political gains, with a target on the 2023 general election.

Dungurawa stated this while fielding questions from newsmen in his office.

According to him, it was arranged to expire with the tenure of the former governor, Dr. Ganduje, whose governorship candidate subsequently lost the 2023 election.

He alleged that the sacked emirs had enjoyed the status of a state commissioner during Ganduje’s reign, adding it was a matter of public good that they now cease to be recognised after Ganduje’s tenure.

“The five first-class emirs we met on the throne were only commissioners appointed by Ganduje to assist his candidates win elections in 2023. They were sustained until they lost the political elections in 2023 and lost their emirships as well.

“The fact remains that immediately Ganduje and his party lost the elections and stepped down as Governor of Kano State, they ought to have also vacated the thrones, because none of them was occupying the vacant seat of Emir of Kano since Muhammadu Sanusi II left.

Read Also: Yusuf rescues late Bayero’s daughter from eviction in Lagos apartment

“But maybe they didn’t accept that their tenure had expired after Ganduje and preferred successor (Gawuna) lost the election that witnessed their benefactor’s exit from the seat of power in the state,” Dungurawa said.

The NNPP chairman said the decision to relieve Bayero and the other emirs of their traditional status was rooted in public outcry over the vacant position of the emir of Kano.

He said: “Governor Abba Yusuf acted based on public outcry that there was a vacuum in the seat of Emir of Kano and he reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II who was earlier dethroned.

“The lawmakers in the State Assembly repealed the Kano Emirate Council law 2019 and enacted a new one that called for a united Kano emirate, and the governor assented to it”.

He commended Justice A. Liman, saying, “The judge is handling the legal tussle professionally brought before him.”

Speaking further, the NNPP state chairman mocked Bayero for hoisting the emirate flag at the Nasarawa palace where he is currently staying, saying the 15th emir was performing the role of a Personal Assistant (PA) to the 16th emir of Kano (Sanusi II).

Dungurawa said: “Don’t forget that the Nasarawa mini palace is a guest house for the Emir. It is all about the Kano Emirate, it shows the SA (Bayero) to the Emir of Kano (Sanusi II) is doing his job faithfully by overseeing the graveyard of their forefathers laid to rest in the mausoleum.”