The Kano State Government has filed an eight-count charge against the immediate past governor of the state, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, for allegedly collecting $200,000 from a contractor, among other infractions.
Other defendants are the ex-governor’s wife, Hafsat Umar, his son, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lesage General Enterprise.
Ganduje was seen in a video in 2018 allegedly receiving bundles of dollar notes from a contractor and stuffing them inside his flowing dress known as “babanriga.”
The ex-governor was mocked by several Nigerians, including leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who branded him “Gandollar” following the incident.
The Kano House of Assembly thereafter set up a committee to investigate the matter, but after the committee failed to submit its report, Governor Abba Yusuf in 2023 set up a new panel to look into the matter.
A few days later the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) invited Ganduje along with the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), and the Accountant General of Kano State for interrogation on the matter.
He had since approached the state High Court to stop the government’s probe.
The state’s counsel, Muhuyi Magaji, who announced the new case on Thursday, said the government would arraign Ganduje and others on an eight-count charge for allegedly receiving bribe from a contractor in dollars, misappropriations and diversion of funds running into billions of naira during his tenure.
There was also no response from those close to Ganduje, who is now the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
