Group asks EFCC to arrest, prosecute Ganduje over dollar videos
2 min readA civil society organisation, War Against Injustice, has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to arrest, investigate, and prosecute the immediate-past governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, over video clips showing him allegedly receiving bribes from contractors.
In October 2018 videos revealed moment the then governor of Kano State was stuffing wads of dollar notes, believed to be kickbacks from contractors, into his pockets.
In a letter dated May 31, and addressed to the Kano zonal commander of the EFCC, and copied to the ICPC, the executive director of the group, Ibrahim Umar, urged the anti-graft agencies to reopen the investigation since the governor has lost his immunity.
“We hereby write to call your attention to the arrest of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, former governor of Kano State, over the bribery allegation and take the necessary action as your organisation does on an ordinary person.
“You may recall that sometime in 2018 there was an allegation of video clips published by Malam Jaafar Jaafar, Chief Editor of the Daily Nigerian [an online newspaper] to the effect that the ex-Kano state Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, collected bribes from the contractors to the tune of five million dollars”.
The group recalled how the Kano State House of Assembly began an investigation into the allegations but was stopped following a ruling of a Kano State High Court.
While justifying the reason for the petition, Mr Umar noted that the organisation and other well meaning Nigerians are interested in the outcome of the investigation.
He said the outcome of the investigation would serve as a deterrent to both public and private citizens on the consequences of corruption.
“We wish to draw your attention to the fact that an ordinary man on the street in Nigeria as well as anti-graft non-governmental organisations like ours is still very much interested in the outcome of this investigation and faces the consequence of his action to serve as a deterrent to people in power and private citizens to shun corrupt practises.
“As your commission is saddled with the responsibility of protecting Nigeria against corruption, we urge you to, carry out this duty on this matter,” he added.