KANO GOVT FILES FRESH FRAUD CHARGE AGAINST GANDUJE, THREE OTHERS
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The Kano State Government has brought new charges of fraud against Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the outgoing governor, Murtala Garo, his commissioner for local government, and two other individuals.
The Kano State Ministry of Justice filed the allegations, which are well documented and accuse the defendants of plotting to steal more than ₦57.43 billion that was intended for the 44 local government areas in Kano State.
This enormous amount, which was supposed to go toward public works initiatives and development projects, was allegedly transferred into personal accounts and used to buy opulent homes both domestically and abroad.
The charge sheet names Garo, Lamin Sani, and Muhammad Takai, accusing them of “criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, making false statements or return, and criminal misappropriation.”
The state alleges that they improperly handled the statutory allotments that were transferred from the Federation account to the State Joint Local Governments account. The accusations further claim that they illegally transferred N57.4 billion through a number of local government cashiers’ personal accounts as well as other individual and business accounts.
“The state government also accused them of transferring the funds into dollars for their personal benefits,” the charge sheet reveals. “They acquired a service apartment on the 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 in Jabi, Abuja.”
The purchase of gas stations on Kano’s Eastern Bypass and Gwarzo Road is noted among other acquisitions.
The prosecution said that the defendants planned to siphon off money through many accounts and then exchange it for cash and foreign currencies between 2020 and 2023.
The Kano State Administration of Criminal Justice Law (2019) and Section 211 of the Nigerian Constitution are the legal frameworks upon which this case is based. It involves several charges of criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, and misappropriation. A comprehensive list of 143 witnesses, which includes former bank personnel, foreign exchange operators, and cashiers from the local government, supports the prosecution’s case. These witnesses are anticipated to offer vital testimony regarding the unlawful actions of the defendants and the complex techniques employed to launder the embezzled funds.
One key witness, Inspector Muhammad Nuhu, is set to testify about the discovery of properties linked to the second defendant, Murtala Sule Garo, in Dubai. Another witness, Labaran Kura, will discuss his business dealings with the defendants, highlighting how they converted large sums of money into U.S. dollars.
The charges have been preferred under the authority granted to the Attorney General of Kano State, with the legal team comprising Ya’u A. Adamu Esq, Usman Fari Esq, Auwal Abdulqadir Sani Esq, and Hope Chukwunyere C. Esq. The case promises to be a landmark in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against corruption, potentially setting a precedent for the prosecution of high-ranking officials involved in financial crimes.
No date has been fixed for the matter, but the people of Kano State and Nigeria at large await the proceedings with bated breath, hoping for justice and accountability in the wake of this massive corruption scandal.
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