Anti-corruption organizations urge the EFCC to arrest and prosecute Ganduje
A group of 51 anti-corruption organizations has officially asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest and prosecute Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the former governor of Kano State and current National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The petition, submitted on November 4, 2024, and acknowledged by the EFCC on November 7, 2024, lists multiple allegations of bribery and misuse of funds against Ganduje.
Ganduje served as governor from 2015 to 2023, and his time in office was marked by corruption claims, including a recent fraud charge filed by the Kano State government. His administration was also accused of cronyism, nepotism, and embezzlement.
The petition highlights specific allegations of mismanagement from 2020 to 2023, along with charges of criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, and misuse of funds.
A total of 143 witnesses, including government cashiers, foreign currency exchangers, and former bank workers, are expected to testify.
The petition, co-signed by Dr. Johnson Nebechi and Comrade Umar Ideresu, leaders of the National Anti-Corruption Alliance (NACA), calls for immediate investigation and action. It notes that Ganduje’s corruption history is well-known, citing a 2018 video showing him allegedly accepting bribes from contractors. The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) also invited Ganduje for questioning in 2023, but he refused to cooperate.
A Kano State High Court has scheduled Ganduje’s trial for April 17, 2024, over allegations of misappropriating N1.38 billion. NACA is urging the EFCC to act quickly, arrest Ganduje, investigate the allegations, and recover any stolen funds. They are calling for transparency, accountability, and justice to be upheld in the case to benefit the Nigerian people.
