Nigeria: APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, suspended amid corruption allegations

The suspension hammer has fallen on the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, as members of his ward, the Ganduje Ward in the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State, took decisive action on Monday. 

Ganduje’s suspension comes in the wake of grave corruption allegations leveled against him by the state government, plunging the political landscape into turmoil.

The saga deepens as the Kano High Court gears up to arraign Ganduje on April 17, 2024, over charges encompassing bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds, notably involving the alleged acceptance of $413,000 and N1.38 billion in bribes. 

This legal battle promises to be high-stakes, with Ganduje slated to stand trial alongside his wife and six others, as per the summons.

Among the accused entities named in the writ of summon are Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Hafsat Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lesage General Enterprises. 

The gravity of the charges has prompted the Kano State Government to mobilize its legal arsenal, vowing to present 15 witnesses to testify before Justice Usman Na’aba of State High Court number four.

Kano State’s Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Dederi, confirmed the development to Vanguard, emphasising the paramount importance of accountability in governance. 

He reiterated, “What he (Ganduje) doesn’t understand is that you cannot run away from the evil day, it will definitely come to you, and this will even serve as a deterrence to all of us that are also in government now.”

Addressing jurisdictional complexities surrounding the case, Dederi clarified, “He was saying that we can’t prosecute him, forgetting that the offence also falls under the category of the state offences.” 

He also disclosed ongoing efforts to challenge Justice Liman’s ruling on the matter, underlining the determination of the state government to pursue justice rigorously.

The suspension of Ganduje from the APC casts a shadow over the party’s leadership and underscores the challenges of graft within Nigeria’s political framework. 

As the legal proceedings unfold, all eyes remain fixed on the unfolding drama, awaiting the outcome of this high-profile case with bated breath.