Ganduje’s Corruption Case Files Stolen in Protest, Says Governor

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, conducted an on-the-spot assessment on Wednesday of the Kano State High Court, which was vandalized, looted, and set ablaze during the recent nationwide hunger protests that escalated into violence in parts of the North.

Governor Yusuf expressed deep regret over the destruction of the court by hoodlums, stating that “the hired miscreants stole corruption case documents related to former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who faces multiple charges in the state high court.”

A statement from the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Tofa, detailed that Yusuf was accompanied on the tour by the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Dederi, the Chief Registrar of the high court, Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero, and several judges.

Yusuf condemned the act, describing it as a deliberate attempt by “enemies of Kano State” to obstruct justice in the corruption cases against Ganduje, his family, and his aides. He lamented that the vandals caused over N1 billion in damage, destroying nearly all units of the high court, including the Chief Judge’s office, and looting crucial materials essential for justice.

The governor urged Kano’s youth to avoid being exploited by those who incite violence and instead focus on skills acquisition for a better future, assuring them of the government’s support. He also ordered the immediate repair of the courthouse and the deployment of additional security to ensure the effective delivery of justice.

Yusuf extended his condolences to the Kano State Chief Judge, Justice Dije Abdu Aboki, and the entire judiciary over the incident.

The management of the state high court had previously condemned the attack in an August 4 statement, noting that investigations were underway to identify the culprits. The court’s spokesperson, Baba Ibrahim, reported that on August 1, protesters claiming to be #EndBadGovernment activists broke into the court, vandalized offices, stole money and guns kept as evidence, and burned vehicles parked on the premises. This marked the first time such an incident had occurred in the Kano State Judiciary.