A coalition of 51 anti-corruption organizations has submitted a new petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), urging the immediate arrest and prosecution of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, former Kano State Governor and current National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The petition, dated November 4, 2024, and officially acknowledged by the EFCC on November 7, 2024, details a series of bribery and embezzlement allegations against Ganduje during his governorship from 2015 to 2023.
The former governor faces accusations of corruption, including a recent fraud case filed by the Kano State government.
The coalition’s petition alleges that Ganduje orchestrated a scheme between 2020 and 2023, diverting funds through multiple accounts and converting them into cash and foreign currencies.
The document lists several charges, including criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, and large-scale misappropriation of public funds.
The coalition plans to present testimony from 143 witnesses, including local government cashiers, currency exchange operators, and former bank officials, to support their claims against Ganduje.
Despite the mounting allegations, Ganduje has consistently denied any wrongdoing. During his tenure, he addressed a corruption scandal through a representative, Commissioner for Information Mr. Muhammad Garba, claiming the accusations were fabricated to damage his reputation.
Ganduje referenced past instances of false reports aimed at prominent figures like Emir of Kano Malam Muhammad Sanusi II and former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, dismissing the bribery claims as baseless.
The new petition was co-signed by Dr. Johnson Nebechi, convener of the National Anti-Corruption Alliance (NACA), and Comrade Umar Ideresu, the organization’s spokesperson.
The petition called for the EFCC to initiate an immediate investigation, highlighting Ganduje’s refusal to comply with a 2023 summons from the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC).
NACA noted that the Kano State High Court had scheduled Ganduje’s arraignment on April 17, 2024, on charges of receiving a $413,000 bribe and misappropriating N1.38 billion.
The group also alleged the diversion of N57.43 billion in public funds and urged the EFCC to take decisive action.
“The EFCC must act swiftly to arrest and prosecute Ganduje, investigate the alleged fund diversion, and work to recover the stolen assets,” the petition read. “The Nigerian public deserves transparency, accountability, and justice. We expect the EFCC to fulfill its mandate by addressing these serious allegations with diligence and determination.”
As of now, Ganduje has not issued any response to the fresh petition or the renewed allegations against him.
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