A coalition of 51 anti-corruption groups has once again petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), calling for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, former Governor of Kano State and current National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The petition, submitted on November 4, 2024, and acknowledged by the EFCC on November 7, 2024, presents new allegations of bribery and financial misconduct during Ganduje’s tenure as governor of Kano State from 2015 to 2023.
The petition highlights multiple claims of corruption, including a fraud charge recently filed by the Kano State government. Specific accusations include masterminding a scheme to embezzle funds through various accounts, converting them into cash and foreign currencies between 2020 and 2023, as well as charges of criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, and misappropriation.
The petition further details that 143 witnesses—ranging from local government cashiers to foreign exchange operators and former bank employees—are set to testify.
Ganduje, who has previously denied such allegations, dismissed a video that surfaced during his tenure as a smear campaign aimed at damaging his reputation. In a statement made by his representative, the Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, Ganduje insisted he had never been involved in bribery and cited similar false reports against the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi II, and former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau.
However, in the new petition, co-signed by Dr. Johnson Nebechi (convener) and Comrade Umar Ideresu (spokesperson) of the National Anti-Corruption Alliance (NACA), the coalition demands that the EFCC urgently investigate and take action on the alleged financial crimes. The petition points to an invitation from the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) in 2023, which Ganduje allegedly ignored, and to an April 2024 court date for his arraignment on charges involving a $413,000 bribe and the misappropriation of N1.38 billion.
NACA is calling on the EFCC to investigate the alleged diversion of N57.43 billion and recover any misappropriated funds, stressing that transparency, accountability, and justice are essential for the Nigerian people. The group urges the EFCC to act swiftly in pursuing the case with the diligence necessary to uphold its mandate in the fight against corruption.
As of now, Ganduje has yet to respond to the latest allegations.
