The Kano State government has reported that documents related to the ongoing corruption trial of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje were stolen during the recent invasion of the State High Court by hoodlums amidst a nationwide protest.
The protest, part of the #EndBadGovernance movement, saw the court, among other properties, vandalized and looted.
The former governor, his wife Hafsat, his son Umar Abdullahi, and five others are facing eight charges related to misappropriation and diversion of funds during Ganduje’s eight-year tenure as governor.
On Wednesday, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf visited the court to assess the damage, accompanied by Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice Barrister Haruna Isah Dederi, Chief Registrar of the High Court Alhaji Abdullahi Ado Bayero, and other judges.
Governor Yusuf, through his spokesperson Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, condemned the vandalization as a deliberate act orchestrated to undermine the corruption case against Ganduje, who is now the Acting National Chairman of the APC.
“It is very unfortunate that enemies of Kano State hired undesirable elements to vandalize one of the historic public buildings with a mission of averting corruption charges against the Ag. National Chairman of APC and former governor of the state Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his family, and aides,” Tofa stated.
The statement also highlighted the extensive damage to the High Court, including the office of the state Chief Judge, with losses estimated at over N1 billion. The vandals reportedly stole office equipment, destroyed offices, burned cars, and took other materials crucial to ongoing judicial proceedings.
Governor Yusuf urged the youth of Kano State to avoid being manipulated by detractors into violence, advising them to focus on acquiring skills for a better future. He assured that the government would continue to safeguard the lives and property of Kano’s citizens.
The governor also expressed his condolences to Chief Judge Dije Abdu Aboki and the judiciary for the incident, encouraging them to recover what was lost for the benefit of justice.
He thanked the people of Kano for their continued support and cooperation with the current administration, and prayed for sustained peace, stability, and economic development in the state.