A coalition of 51 anti-corruption organizations has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest and prosecute Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the former Governor of Kano State and current national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a petition dated November 4, 2024, and acknowledged by the EFCC on November 7, the coalition accuses Ganduje of extensive bribery and misappropriation during his governorship from 2015 to 2023.
The petition, co-signed by Dr. Johnson Nebechi and Comrade Umar Ideresu, representing the National Anti-Corruption Alliance (NACA), lists serious allegations against Ganduje, including the diversion of funds through various bank accounts, conversion to foreign currency, and multiple instances of criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, and embezzlement between 2020 and 2023. The coalition asserts that 143 witnesses, among them former bank employees, local government cashiers, and currency exchange operators, are prepared to testify.
Ganduje has previously denied similar allegations, calling them an attempt to damage his reputation. He referenced a video from his tenure that purportedly showed him receiving bribes, claiming it was fabricated to tarnish his public image. Ganduje also cited past instances of what he described as “fake reports” targeting prominent figures, including the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi II, and former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau.
NACA’s petition highlights Ganduje’s alleged disregard for an invitation from the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) in 2023, which sought to question him on similar charges. The coalition urges the EFCC to act swiftly, advocating for Ganduje’s prosecution and the recovery of an allegedly misappropriated N57.43 billion.
In their appeal, Nebechi and Ideresu stated, “We urge the EFCC to uphold its mandate to combat corruption and protect public interests, ensuring transparency, accountability, and justice for the Nigerian people.”
The Kano State government has also filed a suit involving Ganduje, his wife, and six others. His arraignment on eight counts, including an alleged $413,000 bribe and N1.38 billion in misappropriated funds, is scheduled for April 17, 2024, in the Kano State High Court. So far, Ganduje has not responded to these latest allegations.