The Kano State Government on Thursday arraigned former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, his wife Hafsat, son Umar, and six others for alleged bribery and corruption.
The defendants were absent from court and were arraigned in absentia.
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Prosecuting counsel Adeola Adedayo (SAN) urged the court to issue a bench warrant for their arrest, but Justice Amina Aliyu declined, citing the sensitive political situation in the state.
The court entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of the defendants and adjourned the matter till July 23 and 24 for hearing of preliminary objections and the substantive charges.
According to the charges, Ganduje allegedly received bribes totaling $413,000 and N1.38 billion while serving as Governor of Kano State.
The state government alleged that Ganduje “corruptly asked for and received the sum of $200,000 being benefit for yourself from one of the beneficiaries of contracts awarded by the Kano State Government on your instruction and approval as part of your function as the Governor of Kano State.”
In another count, Ganduje was accused of collecting a kick-back of $213,000 as a bribe through one of the contractors.
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The state also alleged that Ganduje, along with his wife and a businessman, converted N1.376 billion meant for the purchase and supply of face masks and hospital equipment to their own use.
The Kano State Attorney General, Muhuyi Magaji, said the charges were preferred against the defendants under Section 211 of the 1999 Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2019.
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