Fresh fraud charge against Ex-Gov, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, Murtala Garo, and two others.

Kano Government Files Fresh Fraud Charges Against Former Governor Ganduje

The Kano State Government has filed a fresh fraud case against the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, along with the former Commissioner for Local Government, Murtala Garo, and two others.

According to the charge sheet, Garo, Lamin Sani, and Muhammad Takai are being prosecuted for alleged criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, falsification of records, and criminal misappropriation.

The state government accused the defendants of mismanaging the statutory allocations of the 44 Local Government Areas of Kano State. The funds, which were remitted into the State Joint Local Government Account from the Federation Account, were allegedly diverted for personal use.

They are alleged to have criminally diverted N57.4 billion through multiple personal accounts belonging to local government cashiers, as well as other private and corporate accounts. The charge sheet further claims that the defendants converted the funds into foreign currency for personal gain.

The state also alleged that the accused acquired high-value properties, including a service apartment on Murtala Muhammad Way in Kano, a commercial apartment at Akoya Oxygen, Tigerwood Dubai, and Plot 2201, Floor 22, Damac Heights, Marsa Dubai Marina. A multi-billion naira hotel in Jabi, Abuja, as well as several filling stations located on Gwarzo Road and Eastern Bypass in Kano, were also listed among the alleged illegally acquired assets.

In the filing, the state revealed that it intends to call 143 witnesses to testify in the case.

A trial date is yet to be fixed.

Source: Punch Newspapers