A coalition of 51 anti-corruption organizations has formally petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), calling for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the former governor of Kano State and current National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The petition, dated November 4, 2024, and acknowledged by the EFCC on November 7, outlines numerous allegations of bribery, misappropriation, and corruption during Ganduje’s tenure as governor from 2015 to 2023. These allegations include a recent fraud charge filed by the Kano State government, as well as claims of cronyism, nepotism, and embezzlement.
Among the specific accusations against Ganduje are accusations of orchestrating a scheme of financial mismanagement between 2020 and 2023, and involvement in multiple counts of criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds. A total of 143 witnesses, including local government cashiers, foreign currency exchange operators, and former bank employees, are expected to provide critical testimony.
The petition was co-signed by Dr. Johnson Nebechi, convener of the National Anti-Corruption Alliance (NACA), and Comrade Umar Ideresu, the group’s spokesperson. In their statement, NACA emphasized that the severity of the allegations required swift and decisive action from the EFCC.
The petition also referred to past accusations against Ganduje, including a 2018 video published by *Daily Nigerian* that allegedly showed him accepting bribes from contractors. In 2023, Ganduje was invited by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) for questioning but failed to respond. Additionally, a Kano State High Court has scheduled his arraignment for April 17, 2024, on eight counts related to the alleged misappropriation of N1.38 billion.
NACA has called on the EFCC to take immediate action, arrest Ganduje, investigate the allegations of fund diversion, and recover the misappropriated public funds. The petition stresses that the EFCC must fulfill its mandate to combat corruption, ensuring transparency, accountability, and justice for the Nigerian people.
The coalition of anti-corruption groups also reiterated their expectation for the EFCC to pursue the case with diligence and determination, underscoring that the Nigerian people deserve justice and a commitment to eradicating corruption at all levels.
Peoplesmind
