The Kano State government has revealed that documents related to the corruption trial of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje were stolen during the recent invasion of the State High Court by protesters.
Daily Trust reports that the Kano government had charged Ganduje, his wife Hafsat, his son Umar Abdullahi, and five others with eight counts of misappropriation and diversion of funds from his eight-year tenure as governor. The court was among the properties vandalized and looted during the #EndBadGovernance protest.
On Wednesday, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf visited the court to assess the damage. He was accompanied by Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice Barrister Haruna Isah Dederi, Chief Registrar of the High Court Alhaji Abdullahi Ado Bayero, and several judges.
Governor Yusuf described the vandalism as a staged attack by hired miscreants aimed at removing corruption-related documents against Ganduje. According to the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the incident was orchestrated to obstruct the legal proceedings against Ganduje, who is facing multiple charges.
The statement further revealed that the destruction was extensive, with damages estimated to exceed N1 billion. This includes the theft of office equipment, destruction of court offices, burning of vehicles, and other critical materials necessary for the administration of justice.
Yusuf urged the youth of Kano to reject being used for violence and instead focus on skill acquisition for a better future. He emphasized the government’s commitment to securing lives and property in Kano. The governor expressed his sympathy to Chief Judge Dije Abdu Aboki and the judiciary for the damage, encouraging them to overcome the setback to ensure justice for the people.
He also thanked the people of Kano for their support and cooperation and called for continued peace, stability, and economic development in the state.
