Sanusi Speaks On Sealing Of Kano Palace By Security Operatives
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has expressed confusion over the recent blockade of the Gidan Rumfa Palace in Kano, which took place last week. Despite the police and Department of State Services (DSS) blocking the entrance and restricting movement, the reasons for the action remain unclear. Sources revealed that the blockade might be linked to the appointment of Munir Sanusi as the new District Head of Bichi or a planned discussion on controversial tax reforms. PLEASE READ: FCCPC Uncovers Smuggled Sub-standard Sugar in Nigeria The Kano State Government has criticized the Federal Government for the security action, but the Emir emphasized that it should not distract from the important affairs of the palace. Speaking to a delegation from Bichi, Sanusi reassured the people that the event would be rescheduled, and the District Head would be installed peacefully. He urged Bichi residents to remain calm and peaceful, reflecting on his personal connection to the area where he spent much of his childhood vacations. Sanusi, who has deep ties to the Bichi community, highlighted the area’s peaceful nature and strong educational and religious values. He also mentioned the respect the people have for the Wambai Abubakar, further reinforcing his belief in the unity of the Bichi people.
Ganduje faces Fresh Charges
By Doris Isreal Ijeoma The Kano State Government on Tuesday filed fresh charge against former governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje. In the charge sheet with case No. K/143c/24, the state government accused Ganduje and erstwhile Commissioner for Justice, Musa Lawan, of Criminal Conspiracy, and misappropriation contrary to Section 308 and punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code (as amended) CAP 105, Vol. 2, the Laws of Kano State of Nigeria. The offence, the state government said, is contrary punishable under Section 97 and Section 315. The state government accused Ganduje and Lawan of abuse of office. In the charge sheet, the state government said it intends to present four witnesses. No date has been fixed for the arraignment.
‘Ganduje Would Have Made My Life Miserable’ – Sanusi Opens Up On His Dethronement
The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has disclosed the reasons behind his decision not to contest his dethronement by the immediate past Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje. Ganduje had, before leaving office, dethroned the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and subsequently banished him from the mega city in March 2020. At the time, the development had stirred mixed reactions among concerned stakeholders. However, Sanusi, who Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration recently reinstated, shed light on the incident, which happened years ago. The Emir told Sun Newspaper that the Kano emirate is large and has a number of deserving people, which means he lacks the basic entitlement to hold the position of Emir. When asked why he didn’t challenge his dethronment, Sanusi said, “A number of reasons. I have told you that I don’t have a fundamental right to be an Emir. I am one of hundreds of princes. God chose me. And if God says I should leave, for me, I take it that God knows better than me. That was why I had to leave. Okay, let’s say I go to court. Let me even say this; I just got a letter that said I had been dethroned for insubordination. “I had never been queried for insubordination. “The details of the insubordination were not given. I had not been given any chance to defend myself. So, it was clear that the state and the federal governments had both decided that it was time for me to go. Okay?” According to Sanusi, even if he had gone to court and the court returned him, he wouldn’t be able to hold the position with Ganduje as a governor. Sanusi added: “So, let’s even assume that the court said I should come back. Do you think I was looking forward to working with that government? Would I have been happy as an Emir in the last three years working with that government? You’re under a governor. The law gives him the power to be on top of you. He has said he doesn’t like you. He has made it clear he does not like you. If I came, he would just make my life miserable. “It was going to be one story after the other. One fake story, one social media insult after another, and in my position, I won’t be able to respond. So, for me, I had a happier life in Lagos with my friends, publishing my book, doing my PhD, doing my UN work, doing my Tijaniya work, than sitting here in a constant fight with the government. “Secondly, look at the Emir of Gwandu, who was removed under Obasanjo. How many years now? Almost 20. The state High Court said he was illegally removed, and returned him. So, there was an appeal. The Court of Appeal said he was illegally removed and returned him. It is at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has not yet spoken out about him. I mean, do I have 20 years to fight in court to come back to a throne? “So, for me, I had been Emir for six years, alhamdulillah. I had done what I did. At least, the only reason I would have gone to court is if they had removed me on an allegation that harmed my reputation because the only currency I have is my integrity. So, if they had accused me of fraud or something, I would have had to go to court to clear my name, but they said insubordination. “So, the governor was asked, what are the reasons for insubordination? He said, that sometimes he is invited to meetings, and he does not come. For every well-meaning Nigerian who saw that story, who saw that news, I don’t even need to defend myself because if you are going to remove an Emir and the only reason you can have is that you invite him for some meetings that he does not come, then nobody takes you seriously. Everybody knows that this was not the reason. So, I always felt that if it was God’s will that I come back, if not, I’d go and continue my life. “So, I didn’t go to court to challenge my removal. I went to court to challenge their attempt to keep me in exile and under house arrest to enforce my fundamental human rights but I did not go to court to challeng
Kano Court Affirms Ganduje’s Suspension
A Kano State High Court has affirmed the suspension of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. The court, while granting an ex parte order, also restrained Ganduje from further parading himself as a member of the party. The order was granted by Justice Usman Malam Na’abba, on Tuesday, a copy of which was sighted by Daily Trust. The order followed an ex parte motion filed Haladu Gwanjo and Laminu Sani by their counsel Ibrahim Sa’ad. The plaintiffs, who identified as executive members of APC Ganduje ward, said they brought the motion on behalf of the executive members of the ward. Gwanjo, who identified as the party’s ward Legal Adviser, was the one that announced the suspension of Ganduje two days ago. Subsequently, the court ordered, that henceforth, Ganduje should desist from presiding over all affairs of the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC. The State Working Committee of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kano had announced the suspension of ward party leaders who earlier announced the suspension of Ganduje. Daily Trust had reported how the leadership of the party at Ganduje ward in Dawkin Tofa Local Government area announced the suspension of the party’s national chairman, citing corruption charges filed against him by the government. But APC Chairman in Dawakin Tofa Local Government , Inusa Suleiman Dawanau, told newsmen that those behind the act were caught in anti-party activities, with records of their meetings with the ruling opposition exposed. In addition to the suspension, the State Working Committee (SWC) also sanctioned them for six months and set up a panel to verify several allegations against them. The ruling party had subsequently petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, asking the force to probe those behind the purported suspension of Ganduje. The APC in a statement on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Felix Morka, said the perpetrators of the “criminal act” were not card-carrying members or legitimate officials of the APC in Ganduje’s ward. “The purported suspension was the devious act of a group of impersonators of ward officials out to cause mischief and create confusion in the otherwise peaceful Ganduje Ward chapter of our party. The perpetrators of this criminal act are not card carrying members of APC in the ward but are individuals affiliated with senior officials and representatives of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). “This act procured by officials of the ruling NNPP in Kano is part of the despicable programme of political persecution launched by the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf against Dr. Ganduje, a former governor of Kano State. “The purported suspension is downright criminal, and of no effect whatsoever. The legitimate Executive Committee of the Ganduje Ward has since denounced the action and reaffirmed Dr. Ganduje as a bona fide member of the party in the ward, and in good standing.” The NNPP has since distanced itself from the crisis rocking Kano APC.
Tinubu told me I am still APC chairman – Ganduje
The All Progressives Congress, APC, National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, says President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed his position amid the suspension saga. Ganduje disclosed this while addressing some APC stakeholders from Kano State. In a viral video, the APC National Chairman claimed that the Kano State Government was behind the attempt to remove him. “I met with the President, and he told me that my position as APC Chairman, which the Kano State Government was trying to remove me from, will remain unchanged. ”He reaffirmed my position as APC National Chairman”, Ganduje said. On Monday, the APC Legal Adviser in Dawakin ward, Tofa LGA of Kano, Haliru Gwanzo, had suspended Ganduje for alleged corruption. But, Ganduje’s suspension was nullified and those responsible were suspended for six months.
BREAKING: Kano APC sanctions ward leaders over Ganduje’s suspension
The Kano State Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken action against Ganduje Ward Leaders who suspended the National Chairman of the party, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Prince Abdullahi Abbas, the Kano State Chairman of the APC, announced the sanction during a press briefing in Kano on Monday. He stated that the Ganduje Ward leaders have been suspended for six months due to their involvement in anti-party activities. Abbas explained that the State Working Committee made the decision based on the resolution of the party’s Dawakin Tofa Local Government Committee, which also recommended the suspension. “We have evidence of meetings between the State Government officials and those that suspended the National Chairman, and the state working committee has agreed to sanction them for six months and they stand suspended,” Abbas stated. Earlier on Monday, the Ganduje Ward leaders in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area had announced the suspension of Dr Ganduje, alleging corruption during his tenure as Governor. The ward’s legal adviser, Haladu Gwanjo, cited gross misconduct and misappropriation of public funds, particularly referencing the “dollar video” scandal. However, the State Working Committee declared the suspension invalid, null, and void, asserting that it cannot stand.
Why APC suspended Ganduje
The Ganduje Ward of Dawakin Tofa local government area in Kano State has taken the step of suspending Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). This decision was conveyed by the ward’s legal adviser, Halliru Gwanzo, during a press briefing in Kano on Monday. The suspension comes in response to bribery allegations leveled against Ganduje by the Kano State Government. “We decided to suspend Dr. Ganduje from the party due to the seriousness of the allegations against him,” Gwanzo stated. He said the suspension subsists until he clears himself from the allegations.
Fraud, Bribery Allegation: Kano government sues Ganduje, wife, others
The Kano State government has dragged the former governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, his wife, and others to court for allegedly collecting $200,000 from a contractor. The eight-count charges, according to the government, are offences contravening the state Public Complaints and Anti-Commission Commission Law 2008. The state government also accused Ganduje of collecting $210,000 kickback from “people and entities seeking or holding the execution of Kano State Government contract and or projects for the remodelling of Kantin Kwari textile market as a bribe through one of the contractors (agent)”. Other defendants in the case are Ganduje, Hafsat Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lesaga General Enterprises. “That you, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje sometime between the period of September 2020 and March 2021 or thereabout, at Kano in the Kano Judicial Division, together with one Hafsat Umar (your spouse) and Abubakar Bawuro, a Businessman, Safari Textile Ltd, a limited liability company, wholly owned and maintained by the 3rd Defendant, agreed to do an illegal act to wit: dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of N1,376,000,000.00 (One Billion Three Hundred and seventy-six million Naira) through account No. 7085982019 belonging to the 3rd Defendant being monies earmarked and approved for the purchase and supply of face masks and other hospital equipment for the health sector, thereby causing wrongful loss to the people and government of Kano State and thereby jointly committed the offence of Criminal Conspiracy contrary to section 96 and punishable under section 97 of The penal code (as amended) CAP, 105, Vol.2. The Laws of Kano State of Nigeria, 1991,” part of the charge sheet reads “That you, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, sometime between the period of September 2020 and January 2022 or thereabout, at Kano in the Kano Judicial Division, together with one Hafsat Umar (your spouse) and Abubakar Bawuro, a Businessman, Safari Textile Ltd, a limited liability company, while entrusted with the sum of N1,376,000,000.00 (One Billion Three Hundred and seventy-six million Naira) or dominion over the said sum, earmarked for the purchase and supply of face masks and other hospital equipment dishonestly misappropriated and/or converted the said sum to your own use through account No. 7085982019 belonging to the 3rd defendant, thereby jointly committed the offence of Criminal Breach of Trust contrary to section 311 and punishable under section 312 of The penal code (as amended) CAP, 105, Vol.2. “That you, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje sometime between the period of March of 2021 or thereabout, at Kano in the Kano Judicial Division, while serving as the Governor and being a public servant in the government of Kano State for your own benefit and that of your immediate family conspired with the 4th defendant (Umar Abdullahi Umar) being your biological son using 6th defendant (Lamash Properties Ltd) a company owned and or operated by members of your family including the 4th defendant and dishonestly allocated 501 (five hundred and one) high-density plots of lands you hold in trust for the benefit of all Nigerians at Zawachiki layout No. TP/KNUPD/256B in the name of the 6th defendant company under the pretext of site and services arrangement in the land compulsorily acquired by you being the Governor of Kano State from destitute members of the public (peasant farmers) where it was sold and the proceed part of which the sum of #700,000,000.00 (Seven Hundred Million Naira) was deposited in the account of Bureau de change operator vision Steel link Ltd No. Domicile at Access Bank where dollar equivalent was given to the 4th defendant to the detriment of the people and government of Kano State thereby jointly committed the offence of Criminal Conspiracy contrary to section 96 and punishable under section 97 of The penal code (as amended) CAP,105, Vol.2. The Laws of Kano State of Nigeria, 1991. “That you, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje sometime between the period of March of 2021 or thereabout, at Kano in the Kano Judicial Division, while serving as the Governor and being a public servant in the government of Kano State for your own benefit and that of your immediate family conspired with the 4th defendant Umar Abdullahi Umar, being your biological son using 6th defendant Lamash Properties Ltd a company substantially owned and or operated by members of your family including the 4th defendant and dishonestly allocated 501 (five hundred and one) high-density plots of lands you hold in trust for the benefit all Nigerians at Zawachiki layout No. TP/KNUPDA/256B in the name of the 6th defendant company under the pretext of site and services arrangement in the land compulsory acquired by you as a governor of Kano state from destitute members of the public (peasant farmers) which was sold and the proceeds, the sum of #700,000,000.00 (Seven Hundred Million Naira) was deposited in the account of Bureau de change operator vision Steel link Ltd No. 7816362026 Domicile at FCMB where dollar equivalent was given to the 4th defendant thereby causing wrongful gain to yourself and causing wrongful loss to the people and government of Kano State thereby jointly committed the offence Criminal Breach of Trust contrary to section 311 and read together with section 79 and punishable under section 312 of The Penal Code (as amended), CAP. 105, Vol. 2. The Laws of the Kano State of Nigeria, 1991.” The state government said a forensic expert would analyse the video, showing the former governor receiving dollar notes from a contractor. Ganduje, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), served as governor of Kano from 2015 to 2023. In 2018, Daily Nigerian, an online newspaper, published a video of Ganduje allegedly receiving bundles of dollars from contractors, which he stuffed into his “babanriga”, a traditional outfit The newspaper said the former governor requested $5 million as a bribe from the contractors who recorded the video. In 2023, the Kano state Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) invited Ganduje for questioning over the incident in the video. The former governor did not honour the invitation and instead instituted
No Vacancy – APC Reacts As Yahaya Bello Moves To Unseat Ganduje As National Chairman
APC has told the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, that there is no vacancy within the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party. APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, stated this Tuesday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the resolutions reached at the 141st meeting of the NWC. Bello had commenced the move to unseat Abdulahi Ganduje as the national chairman of the party after posters promoting him for the position of the chairman were seen at strategic places in the nation’s capital on Monday. Morka’s words: “There is no vacancy in the office of the national chairman. Our national chairman remains the chairman. This is democracy, people do what they want. We have total confidence in the leadership of the party. Those who are posting these papers around should desist from doing so.” Morka revealed that the ruling party would flag off the update of the party’s membership register in Niger State. According to him, “To flag off the update of membership registration nationally in Niger State, then flag off in one state in each of the other geo-political zones.” He also denounced the failure or refusal of the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly to swear in 16 APC House members adjudged by the Court of Appeal as the duly elected members of the Plateau State House of Assembly. He said the stubbornness of the Speaker and the governor of the state in this matter was wrong, undemocratic and violently contemptuous of the authority of the Court of Appeal, the highest court for the determination of election petition matters as it concerns the House of Assembly.
Ganduje hasn’t contacted Abba Yusuf over request to join APC, says aide
Sunusi Bature Dawakin, director-general of media and publicity in the office of Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano state, says his principal has not been contacted by Abdullahi Ganduje, national chair of the All Progressives Congress (APC), over joining the APC. Dawakin said this in reaction to comments credited to Ganduje who said he had asked the Kano governor to abandon the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the APC. “We are appealing to those who want to join APC to come,” the APC national chair had said. “In particular, we are inviting the Governor of Kano and his NNPP to join APC.” Speaking on the BBC Hausa service on Friday, Dawakin said they only learnt of the invitation via social media. The director-general said as a former governor and former deputy governor, Ganduje knows the right channels to get to his principal. “We learned about the invitation on social media, but Dr Ganduje, as a former Governor and former deputy governor, knows more than any other person how to send a message to an incumbent governor, appropriately,” he said. Dawakin said Yusuf is yet to take any position on whether he would join the ruling party or not. President Bola Tinubu is reportedly working to reconcile Ganduje and Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano. Kwankwaso and Yusuf defected to the NNPP before the 2023 polls where they both pursued presidential and governorship bids respectively. While the former governor was not successful with his presidential bid, Yusuf was declared winner of the gubernatorial election which has now been affirmed by the supreme court.