Former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje is facing a setback in his corruption case after key documents were stolen during a recent protest in Kano. The incident occurred when the Kano State High Court was vandalized, looted, and set on fire amid nationwide protests that turned violent in parts of the North.
Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the damage on Wednesday. During his visit, he expressed deep regret over the invasion and destruction of the court by hoodlums, noting that the stolen documents were critical to the ongoing corruption charges against Ganduje, his family, and aides.
According to a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Tofa, Yusuf was guided through the wreckage by the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Dederi, along with the Chief Registrar of the High Court, Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero, and several judges.
Yusuf described the event as an orchestrated attempt to undermine justice, stating, “It is very unfortunate that enemies of Kano State hired undesirable elements to vandalize one of the historic public buildings with a mission to subvert the corruption charges against the acting National Chairman of the APC and former governor of the state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.”
The governor further disclosed that the damages included the destruction of nearly all units of the high court, including the office of the state Chief Judge, resulting in losses estimated at over N1 billion. The rioters reportedly stole office equipment, burned cars, and looted exhibits, including guns, crucial to ongoing cases.
Governor Yusuf urged the youth to resist being manipulated into violence and instead focus on skill acquisition for a better future, promising government support in this regard. He also ordered the immediate rehabilitation of the courthouse and the deployment of additional security to ensure justice is served.
Yusuf extended his sympathies to the Kano State Chief Judge, Justice Dije Abdu Aboki, and the judiciary over the incident, while commending the people of Kano for their support of his administration. He called for continued cooperation to maintain peace, stability, and economic development in the state.
The state high court management had earlier released a statement lamenting the invasion and announcing an investigation to track down the perpetrators. The court’s spokesperson, Baba Ibrahim, confirmed that the rioters had also stolen money and guns seized from kidnappers, which were being held as evidence.
News Editor