Former Gov. Ganduje faces corruption charges over dollar video

Abdullahi Ganduje, the former governor of Kano State and current national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is facing corruption charges in the Kano State High Court.

The Kano State government filed an eight-count indictment against Mr Ganduje, accusing him of soliciting and receiving bribes totalling $410,000 from contractors seeking government contracts.

The charges also include alleged misappropriation of funds intended for face masks and hospital equipment, alongside his wife Hafsat Umar, and land allocation offenses with his son Umar Abdullahi Umar.

The charges stem from accusations that first emerged in 2018, when a video surfaced online purportedly showing Mr Ganduje receiving stacks of cash from contractors. The former governor denied the video’s authenticity.

While governors enjoy immunity, federal anti-corruption laws allow governors and presidents to be prosecuted for corruption offences even while in office. The federal government did not take action against the governor despite widespread calls for his prosecution.

More charges against family members

Efforts to investigate corruption allegations against Mr Ganduje faced a setback last year. The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) attempted to question Mr Ganduje regarding a 2018 video. However, the former governor declined the invitation and sued the PCACC.

A federal high court in Kano ultimately ruled in Mr Ganduje’s favour, preventing the PCACC from investigating him. Judge Abdullahi Liman determined the alleged offense fell under federal jurisdiction, limiting the state anti-corruption agency’s authority.

In the case filed against the former governor, the state, now controlled by the former opposition New Nigerian Peoples Party(NNPP), accused Mr Ganduje and his wife, Hafsat Umar, of misappropriating N1.4 billion earmarked for the purchase of face masks and hospital equipment for personal use.

The government also accused Mr Ganduje and his son Umar Abdullahi Umar of dishonestly allocating 501 high-density plots of land held in trust for the benefit of all Nigerians.