The former governor of Kano State and current APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, along with his wife, was set to be arraigned at the Kano High Court on April 17, 2024, over allegations of bribery and misappropriation of funds by the state government. However, neither he nor his wife appeared in court, nor did they send any counsel to represent them. The matter was adjourned to April 29, 2024, but again, there was no representation, and Ganduje did not attend the court session. The case was subsequently adjourned to May 16, 2024, and on that day, the arraignment was rescheduled for June 5th, yet Ganduje still did not show up in court.The court or the anti-graft commission did not declare him wanted for his actions.
In contrast, FGYB, whose counsel has consistently appeared in court, was declared wanted by the EFCC for allegedly failing to appear for arraignment.
The Kaduna State Assembly had, in April, set up a 13-member committee to investigate loans, financial transactions, contractual liabilities, and other related matters under the administration led by El-Rufai. In a report adopted by the state lawmakers, the committee revealed that N423 billion was siphoned during El-Rufai’s administration. However, the EFCC neither investigated nor invited El-Rufai for interrogation regarding this alleged misappropriation. El-Rufai took legal action to challenge the allegations made by the State Assembly, but the Federal High Court in Kaduna declined jurisdiction over the case.
Conversely, the EFCC is pursuing FGYB, despite the Kogi State Assembly’s investigation, which found no evidence of misappropriation of funds during his administration.
Justice Nwite, who issued an order directing FGYB to present himself for trial in the N80.2 billion alleged money laundering case brought by the EFCC, had previously issued an ex-parte order preventing the EFCC from probing the former Ekiti State Director General of Procurement, Odawele, regarding the alleged embezzlement of funds allocated for the Ekiti Airport project.
The EFCC, which readily welcomed Fayose when he was accompanied by governor of Rivers State, and former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode, refused to interrogate FGYB when he was accompanied by a sitting governor.
On November 1st, 2023, as published by the EFCC’s Media and Publicity Department, the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Olanipeku Olukoye, directed that nighttime sting operations be halted across all EFCC commands. However, under the leadership of same Mr. Olanipeku Olukoye, the EFCC still besieged the Kogi State Government Lodge at night in an attempt to arrest FGYB.
– Engr Ira Habib writes from Kogi state.
