The Kano State government has confirmed that some documents related to the corruption trial of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje were stolen when the State High Court was invaded during a recent nationwide protest.
The incident occurred during the #EndBadGovernance protest, which saw hoodlums vandalize and loot the court premises.
The government had previously filed eight charges against Ganduje, his wife Hafsat, his son Umar Abdullahi, and five others. These charges were related to the alleged misappropriation and diversion of funds during Ganduje’s eight-year tenure as governor.
READ ALSO: Kano Govt files fresh charges against Ganduje, 3 others over alleged N57.4bn fraud
On Wednesday, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf visited the court to assess the damage. He was accompanied by the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Haruna Isah Dederi, the Chief Registrar of the High Court, Alhaji Abdullahi Ado Bayero, and several judges.
According to a statement from the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Yusuf described the vandalism as a “staged-managed mission,” claiming that the miscreants were hired to disrupt the corruption case against Ganduje.
“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 Ag. National Chairman of APC and former governor of the state Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his family, and aides,” the statement read.
The statement also revealed that the vandals caused extensive damage to the court, destroying nearly all units, including the office of the state Chief Judge. The estimated loss from the damage, which includes stolen office equipment, destroyed offices, and burned vehicles, is over N1 billion.
Governor Yusuf urged the youth in Kano to avoid being used by detractors for violent purposes. Instead, he encouraged them to focus on skill acquisition for a better future, assuring that the government remains committed to securing the lives and property of Kano residents.
He also expressed his condolences to the Chief Judge, Dije Abdu Aboki, and the judiciary for the incident, urging them to recover what was lost in the court proceedings to ensure justice for the common man.
Additionally, he thanked the people of Kano for their continued support and prayed for peace, stability, and economic prosperity in the state.
