The Kano State government has revealed that crucial documents related to the corruption trial of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje were stolen during the recent invasion of the State High Court. The incident occurred amid the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests, during which the court was vandalized and looted by hoodlums.
Grassroots parrot reported that the state government had charged Ganduje, his wife Hafsat, his son Umar Abdullahi, and five others with eight counts of misappropriation and diversion of funds during Ganduje’s eight-year tenure as governor. The trial was ongoing at the time of the court invasion.
On Wednesday, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf visited the court to assess the extent of the damages. He was accompanied by the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Haruna Isah Dederi, the Chief Registrar of the High Court, Alhaji Abdullahi Ado Bayero, and several judges.
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During the visit, Governor Yusuf condemned the attack, describing it as a deliberate attempt to undermine the corruption charges against Ganduje, who is currently serving as the Acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Yusuf stated that “enemies of Kano State hired undesirable elements to vandalize one of the historic public buildings with a mission of averting corruption charges against Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his family, and aides.”
Tofa’s statement further detailed that the miscreants caused extensive damage across the court premises, including the office of the state’s Chief Judge. The losses were estimated to exceed N1 billion, with stolen office equipment, destroyed offices, burned cars, and other materials essential to the administration of justice among the damages.
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Governor Yusuf called on the youth of Kano State to resist being manipulated by detractors into engaging in violence. He urged them to focus on acquiring skills that would secure a better future, emphasizing the government’s commitment to protecting the lives and property of Kano’s residents.
The governor expressed his sympathy to the Chief Judge, Dije Abdu Aboki, and the judiciary for the unfortunate incident. He urged the judiciary to recover and continue their work to ensure justice for the people of Kano.
Yusuf also commended the residents of Kano for their support of the current administration, praying for continued peace, stability, and economic development in the state.
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The theft of documents from the High Court has raised concerns about the integrity of the ongoing trial and the broader impact of the protest-related violence on the judicial process in Kano.
The state government has vowed to ensure that those responsible for the invasion and theft are brought to justice, while efforts are underway to restore the court’s functionality and recover the stolen materials.