A Federal High Court in Kano has issued a ruling that prevents the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) from inviting or investigating Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), over bribery allegations.
The judge stated that such allegations fall under federal jurisdiction and should be handled by federal agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The PCACC however plans to appeal the ruling, while Ganduje’s legal representative, Matthew Burkaa, hails the decision, stating that it is a correct interpretation of the law.
The bribery accusations emerged in 2018 when Daily Nigerian released a video allegedly showing Ganduje receiving money from contractors, which he supposedly concealed in his traditional attire “Babariga”. The newspaper alleged that Ganduje solicited a $5 million bribe from the contractors captured in the video.
Upon completing his eight-year double tenure as Kano governor, the PCACC invited Ganduje for questioning in July 2023, causing the former governor to file a legal challenge to the agency’s authority.
Ganduje also took legal actions to protect himself from potential EFCC investigation by filing a separate suit in June 2023.
