The Kano State government has reported that documents related to the corruption trial of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje were stolen by protesters who invaded the State High Court during a recent nationwide demonstration.
The court was among several properties damaged and looted by hoodlums during the #EndBadGovernance protest.
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The trial involves Ganduje, his wife Hafsat, his son Umar Abdullahi, and five others, who face eight charges of misappropriation and diversion of funds during Ganduje’s eight-year tenure as governor.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf visited the court on Wednesday to assess the extent of the damage.
He was accompanied by the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Haruna Isah Dederi, Chief Registrar of the High Court, Alhaji Abdullahi Ado Bayero, and several judges.
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The governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, stated that Yusuf described the vandalism as a deliberate act orchestrated by enemies of the state.
The miscreants, he said, were hired to disrupt the corruption trial of Ganduje, who is also the Acting National Chairman of the APC.
“It is very unfortunate that enemies of Kano State hired undesirable elements to vandalize one of the historic public buildings with the aim of averting corruption charges against Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his family, and aides,” Tofa said in a statement.
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The statement further revealed that the vandals caused significant damage to the High Court, including the office of the state Chief Judge, resulting in losses exceeding N1 billion.
The damage included the theft of office equipment, destruction of offices, burning of vehicles, and the loss of crucial materials necessary for the dispensation of justice.
Governor Yusuf urged the youth of Kano State to avoid being used by detractors to engage in violence, advising them to focus instead on acquiring skills for a better future.
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He assured that the government would continue to prioritize the security of lives and property in the state.
Yusuf also expressed sympathy to Chief Judge Dije Abdu Aboki and the entire judiciary for the incident, encouraging them to recover what was lost to ensure justice for the people.
He thanked the people of Kano for their support of the current administration and prayed for continued peace, stability, and economic development in the state.
