In his response to the most recent corruption charges against him by the Kano state government, the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) Abdullahi Ganduje says the offence he is being accused of by the Kano state government is a federal offence that can only be prosecuted by the Attorney General of the Federation and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ganduje said this to the Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu on Friday and made available to our Correspondent.
He further advised Gov Yusuf to stop diverting public attention from his failures and redirect his energy towards relieving the plight of the people.
“They failed to take judicial notice of the recent pronouncement of the Federal High Court in Kano which ruled that the so-called offence I am being accused of is a federal offence that can only be prosecuted by the Attorney General of the Federation and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“Rather than join issues with my traducers in Kano over the trumped-up charges levelled against me, I would implore them to redirect their energies towards easing the plights of our people in Kano” Ganduje counselled.
Ganduje’s Chief Press Secretary further described the latest antics of the Governor Yusuf as an unfortunate and sorry attempt to shift public glare from the fact that there is really nothing on the ground in the state to justify the sharp increase in statutory allocations to the state since the inception of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration in May 29, 2023.
Ganduje was reacting to the decision of the Kano State Government to file criminal charges against him over alleged bribery of $413,000, and N1.38 billion.
Ganduje said that the latest attempt by the state to drag his name in the mud would fail adding that it spoke volumes of the level of crass ignorance and disregard for the rule of law by the Governor Abba Yusuf-led administration.
“In their desperate attempt to malign me and my family, they either forgot or probably cannot conduct themselves by the dictates of the law,” he affirmed.
“They still have the opportunity to revert to my blueprint for the sustainable growth and development of Kano State. It is not yet late in the day for them to emulate my developmental strides. They can still salvage the situation as my tenure was devoid of any wrongdoings.
Ganduje who administered Kano State between 2015 to 2023, also described the decision by the administration to set up two committees to probe him over alleged misappropriation of public property, political violence and missing persons in the state as a welcome development.
He. however observed that it would have been in the best interest of the state to extend the dateline of the probe to flag off from 1999 to date.
“As the saying goes, he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. It shouldn’t be seen as targeted at my administration alone. It should not be seen to be borne out of malice, vindictiveness and ill will. It should be for public good and interest” he declared.
“We conducted the affairs of governance in the state openly and transparently during my tenure. We don’t need to be seeking direction from our masters to do what is proper,” he stressed.