The Kano State Government has filed new fraud charges against the former governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, along with his Commissioner for Local Government, Murtala Garo, and two others.
According to the charge sheet, Garo, Lamin Sani, and Muhammad Takai are facing accusations of criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, falsifying statements, and criminal misappropriation.
The charges stem from allegations that the group mismanaged the statutory allocations of the 44 Local Governments, which were remitted to the State Joint Local Governments account from the Federation account.
The state further alleges that N57.4 billion was criminally diverted through various personal accounts belonging to Local Government Cashiers and other personal and corporate accounts.
Additionally, the state government accuses them of converting these funds into dollars for personal gain.
The accusations extend to the acquisition of multiple high-value properties, including a service apartment on Murtala Muhammad Way, a commercial apartment in Dubai’s Akoya Oxygen – x20868 Tigerwood, and a luxury property at Plot 2201 Floor 22 Damac Heights, Marsa Dubai Marina. The charges also cite the purchase of a multi-billion Naira hotel in Jabi, Abuja, as well as several filling stations on Gwarzo Road and Eastern Bypass in Kano.
The state intends to present 143 witnesses in the case, though no trial date has been set.
Earlier, on April 4, the Kano government had filed a lawsuit against Ganduje, his wife Hafsat Umar, and six others, including his son, Umar Abdullahi Umar, before the Kano High Court. Those charges included conspiracy, misappropriation, and abuse of office.
In a separate case filed on July 16, with case number K/143c/24, the state government charged Ganduje and the former Commissioner for Justice, Musa Lawan, with criminal conspiracy and misappropriation, accusing them of abusing their offices.
NAN reports.
