Kano Government Files New Charge Against Ganduje and Three Others Regarding Alleged ₦57.4bn Fraud

The Kano State Government has brought new charges of fraud against Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the outgoing governor, Murtala Garo, his commissioner for local government, and two other individuals.

The Kano State Ministry of Justice filed the allegations, which are well documented and accuse the defendants of plotting to steal more than ₦57.43 billion that was intended for the 44 local government areas in Kano State.

This enormous amount, which was supposed to go toward public works initiatives and development projects, was allegedly transferred into personal accounts and used to buy opulent homes both domestically and abroad.

Garo, Lamin Sani, and Muhammad Takai are named on the charge sheet, which also charges them with “criminal misappropriation, criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and making false statements or returns.”

The state alleges that they improperly handled the statutory allotments that were transferred from the Federation account to the State Joint Local Governments account. Additionally, according to the charges, they illegally transferred ₦57.4 billion through a number of cashiers’ personal accounts with the local government as well as other individual and corporate accounts.

According to the charge sheet, “the state government also accused them of transferring the funds into dollars for their personal benefits.” “They purchased a commercial apartment at Akoya Oxygen – x20868 Dubai in Tigerwood, a service apartment on the Murtala Muhammad Way, and plot 2201 Floor 22 Damac Height, Marsa Dubai Marina, a multi-billion naira hotel in Jabi, Abuja.”

The purchase of gas stations on Kano’s Eastern Bypass and Gwarzo Road is noted among other acquisitions.

The prosecution said that the defendants planned to siphon off money through many accounts and then exchange it for cash and foreign currencies between 2020 and 2023.

The Kano State Administration of Criminal Justice Law (2019) and Section 211 of the Nigerian Constitution are the legal frameworks upon which this case is based. It involves several charges of criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, and misappropriation. A comprehensive list of 143 witnesses, which includes former bank personnel, foreign exchange operators, and cashiers from the local government, supports the prosecution’s case. These witnesses are anticipated to offer vital testimony regarding the unlawful actions of the defendants and the complex schemes employed to launder the embezzled money.

Inspector Muhammad Nuhu, one of the major witnesses, is scheduled to testify regarding the finding of properties connected to the second defendant, Murtala Sule Garo, in Dubai. Labaran Kura, another witness, would talk about his business interactions with the defendants and how they changed big amounts of money into US dollars.

The Attorney General of Kano State has been authorized to prosecute the accusations. The attorneys for the state are Ya’u A. Adamu, Esq., Usman Fari, Esq., Auwal Abdulqadir Sani, Esq., and Hope Chukwunyere C., Esq. In Nigeria’s continuous fight against corruption, the case looks to be historic and may establish a precedent for the prosecution of senior officials implicated in financial crimes.

The people of Kano State and all of Nigeria are eagerly awaiting the proceedings, expecting that after this enormous corruption scandal, justice and accountability will be served. No date has been set for the subject.