Former Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), Muhyi Magaji Rimin Gado, says his experience probing high-profile corruption cases in Kano revealed that corrupt politicians operate like “cancerous ailments” that require painful but decisive removal for Nigeria to regain its dignity among nations.

Magaji stated this in Lagos on Tuesday while delivering a keynote address titled “Youth as Catalyst of Integrity: Building a Corruption-Free Future for Nigeria,” during the public presentation of the 19th edition of the Compendium on 100 Profile Corruption Cases in Nigeria.
The event was organised by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) to commemorate International Anti-Corruption Day.

Investigations That Exposed Suspect Companies Linked to Ganduje

He recounted that while carrying out his statutory duties at PCACC—established in 2005 to combat corruption in Kano—he uncovered multiple suspicious companies allegedly tied to former Kano State governor and ex-APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.

According to him, several Public-Private Partnership (PPP) deals in the state were linked to Ganduje, and billions of naira in illicit proceeds were traced to fraudulent Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) channels, especially land rent transactions.

Threats, Harassment, and Night Arrest

Magaji said his determination to probe the alleged looting of public funds invited persistent threats to him and his family, eventually leading to his dramatic night arrest last Friday.

He narrated how dozens of armed security operatives stormed Kano, whisked him away, and drove him through the night to Abuja—sandwiched between armed officers—where he was detained for 17 hours.

“They are willing to kill to protect stolen funds,” he said.
“These people are as dangerous as drug cartels in Colombia. Fighting them is like confronting drug lords.”

He added that had the convoy encountered bandits, “the chances of anyone surviving would have been slim.”

‘Police Being Used Against Me’

Magaji accused some powerful politicians of deploying compromised law enforcement agents to intimidate him, alleging that the police had initiated a criminal investigation into a judicial process already before the court—an action he described as unconstitutional and prejudicial.

“I was given a fiat by the Attorney General to prosecute offences against Kano State laws. Why arrest me for doing my job? Why not arrest the state if they can?” he asked.

He insisted that the police have “no legal or moral justification” to investigate a matter already before a competent court.

Warning to Nigerians

Magaji urged Nigerians to use democratic processes to vote out corrupt elites who, he said, have “sold the people’s birthright” and continue to hinder the country’s progress.

He warned that Nigeria’s development would remain stunted as long as corruption networks dominate its political landscape.

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Background: The ‘Gandollar’ Video Scandal

In 2018, secretly recorded videos surfaced allegedly showing Governor Ganduje receiving bundles of U.S. dollars from contractors and stuffing them into his babariga. The footage, published by investigative journalist Jaafar Jaafar, sparked nationwide outrage and earned the nickname “Gandollar.”

Ganduje denied the videos’ authenticity, claiming they were doctored and politically motivated.

Attempts to investigate the scandal hit political and legal barriers. Although the Kano State House of Assembly initiated a probe, it stalled. A court later ruled that the PCACC lacked jurisdiction to prosecute a sitting governor. No conviction followed, and Ganduje completed his tenure before later serving as APC National Chairman.