Former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State is at the center of a significant legal battle as a federal high court in Kano has announced September 22 as the date for the judgment in his suit seeking to halt investigations and potential arrest related to bribery allegations.
The allegations came to light in 2018 when Daily Nigerian, an online newspaper, published a video purportedly showing Ganduje receiving bundles of dollars from contractors, which he allegedly concealed within his traditional “babanriga” outfit.
According to the newspaper’s claims, the former governor was accused of soliciting a bribe of $5 million from the contractors, who covertly recorded the transaction.
However, Ganduje has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the video was doctored with the intent of defaming him.
In a recent development, the Kano Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has vouched for the authenticity of the bribery video. Consequently, the commission extended an invitation to Ganduje for questioning in connection with the incident.
However, the former governor chose not to honor the invitation.
Instead, he filed an ex parte motion with the court, seeking to prevent the commission from arresting him and conducting further investigations into the bribery allegations.
During the court session held on Tuesday, Ganduje’s counsel, Matthew Burkaa, clarified that the application was based on the fundamental rights enforcement procedure rules of 2009 and section 46 of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.
Burkaa emphasized that the fundamental rights suit aimed to protect Ganduje, his family members, and all his appointees.
He clarified that the applicant was not challenging the investigation itself but rather insisted that it should follow proper legal procedures.
In response, Femi Falana, representing the PCACC, argued that Ganduje could no longer claim immunity as his tenure as governor ended on May 29.
Falana stressed that the suit was a matter of public interest, not just an individual’s, as the applicant sought to use the court order to shield himself and other involved parties from further investigation.
He further contended that the court could not safeguard the identities of those not present before it.
“The court shouldn’t protect the applicant’s gagging suit to allow the respondents to perform their statutory duty,” Falana urged, requesting the court to dismiss Ganduje’s suit and all the reliefs sought.
The counsels representing the Nigeria Police and the Kano state police commissioner, Sunday Ekwe, and the Kano state attorney-general, Khalifa Hashim, respectively, aligned with Falana’s arguments and urged the court to dismiss the previously granted ex parte order.
Following the presentations from all parties, the presiding judge, A.M. Liman, adjourned the matter until September 22, when the court is scheduled to deliver its judgment on the case.
