News
Dollar video:More trouble for Ganduje as Kano CJ reassigns case to new judge
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Dije Abdu-Aboki, Kano state chief judge (CJ), has transferred the criminal case against Abdullahi Ganduje, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to a new judge.
Before the latest development, the case was before Kano high court 4 presided over by Usman Na’abba.
The case has now been transferred to high court 7, sitting at Miller Road and presided over by Amina Adamu-Aliyu.
Mr Baba Jibo-Ibrahim, the court’s spokesperson, said the office of the CJ has the power to direct and transfer a case at any stage before judgment.
The Kano government filed an eight-count charge bordering on bribery allegations, misappropriation, and division of public funds against Ganduje.
The former governor of Kano is to stand trial alongside his wife, Hafsat Umar; son, Umar Abdullahi Umar; and five others.
Other defendants in the case are Abubakar Bawuro, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.
The defendants were scheduled for arraignment on April 17, but the prosecution failed to serve the charge on them.
On April 29, the judge fixed May 16 to rule on an application by the prosecution seeking substituted service
In 2018, the 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 APC national chairman was the governor of Kano from 2015 to 2023.
The newspaper said Ganduje 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 a suit against the agency.
In March, a federal high court in Kano stopped the agency from inviting or questioning Ganduje over the bribery allegations.
The court ruled that the agency lacks the power to invite or investigate Ganduje over the allegations.
Abdullahi Liman, the presiding judge, said the alleged infraction is a federal offence that cannot be prosecuted by the state anti-graft agency.
News
WATCH moment Tinubu hails FCT minister for his doggedness, sterling performance
President Bola Tinubu has described the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, minister Nyesom Wike as a performing and dogged technocrat.
Naijablitznews reports Tinubu made this assertion during his maiden presidential chat on Monday.
The president rounded up by saying “I doff my hat for the performing minister.
Watch clip below:
News
BREAKING: Human Rights Lawyer Dele Farotimi Released
By Gloria Ikibah
Prominent human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, has been released after fulfilling his bail conditions.
Farotimi, who had been in custody over allegations of defaming Senior Advocate of Nigeria and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Afe Babalola, regained his freedom on Tuesday morning.
He is currently enroute to his home in Lagos.
Confirming the development, activist and politician Omoyele Sowore stated on X, “I am pleased to report that Dele Farotimi is no longer being held in the prison facilities of Ekiti State and is now returning home to Lagos. The struggle continues!”
Earlier, a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ado Ekiti granted Farotimi bail, setting conditions that included a N30 million bond, two sureties (one of whom must be a property owner), the submission of his passport, and a restriction on granting media interviews following his release.
News
NASC backpedals reverses Atiku’s appointment as DCNA, replaces him with Yero
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Following the intervention by the National Assembly leadership, the National Assembly Service Commission, NASC, has reversed the appointment of Dr Ibrahim Atiku as Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly, DCNA.
The Commission has replaced Atiku with the permanent secretary [Estate and Works Directorate], Engineer Bashir Yero.
This was consequent upon the outcome of a meeting convened Monday night by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, with Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and their deputies in attendance.
Present also at the meeting were the Chairman of the NASC, Engineer Ahmed Amshi, two commissioners from NASC, and some permanent secretaries in the NASS bureaucracy.
THE CONCLAVE learnt that the high-level meeting took place in the Senate President’s residence.
Reports from the meeting said that the chairman of the NASC and his commissioners could not justify the appointment of Atiku when asked by the speaker how the choice of Atiku was arrived at.
THE CONCLAVE reports that it was at that point that the commission chairman sought the leave of the Senate President and the Speaker to ask that the permanent secretaries present should excuse them since they could not be sitting over a matter in which they had personal interest.
Upon their return to the room, after the leadership had arrived at a resolution one way or another, it was agreed that Engr. Bashir Yero of Estate and Works Directorate be appointed the DCNA, while Engr Sanda Liman of Procurement Directorate, be redeployed in Estate and Works.
The newly promoted Ibrahim Atiku [to the position of permanent secretary], as resolved and directed, should be deployed in Procurement Directorate.
The NASC is expected to formalise and/or activate the decision soonest.
Source: CONCLAVE
-
Metro16 hours ago
Appeal Court Affirms 12-Year Jail Term for Businessman Over $1.4 Million Fraud
-
News16 hours ago
Again, Senator Manu shares 10,000 bags of rice, 15,000 cartons of spaghetti, transport fares to constituents (Photos/Video)
-
Sports15 hours ago
Alex Iwobi Spreads Holiday Cheer with Free Food Donations in East London
-
Entertainment15 hours ago
Portable’s Baby Mama Honey Berry and New Man Dance Romantically to Singer’s Song, Tag Him to Post
-
News22 hours ago
Just in: Tinubu exposes those behind deadly stampedes
-
News14 hours ago
FG gives banks, telcos six-month ultimatum on N250bn USSD debt
-
News15 hours ago
Outcry against Tax Reform Bills misplaced, says Senator Umeh
-
News15 hours ago
CDS Musa sets high bar for newly-decorated Major Generals