The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) says forensic analysis has confirmed that the dollar videos of ex-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje were not doctored.

In 2017, Daily Nigerian, an online publication, had released some videos of Ganduje allegedly collecting kickbacks from contractors.

The ex-Governor had denied the allegation, saying the videos were doctored.
But speaking at ‘A One Day Public Dialogue on Anti-Corruption Crusade in Kano’, on Wednesday, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, Chairman of the agency, said the authenticity of the videos had been confirmed.

He said since the release of the footages, people have been challenging the commission under him to prove the innocence or otherwise of the former governor in the matter.

He added that his commission commenced investigation in 2018 but could not go far because Ganduje, who was governor at the time, had immunity.

“Anybody that knows can tell that I am passionate about what I am doing which is fight corruption. People are disturbing me and pressurizing me to probe the dollar video. We are on it already, part of which is; forensic analysis confirmed to us that the video is not doctored,” he said.

“We are here to fight corruption in its entirety not only on one issue. So far, we have recovered property worth N200 million. We also have a corruption case of over N100 billion which we will continue and ensure that we recover the stolen properties, money and any other belongings of government and individuals.”

Earlier in his remarks, an academician, Dr. Abdullahi Kani, said lack of investigation in corruption allegations and societal tolerance on the suspects is causing serious setback to the fight against the corruption.

Citing a United Nations reports, he said in 2019, over N675 billion was offered as corruption which showed the country’s failure in addressing corruption.

Similarly, a member of the Civil Society Forum in the state, IG. Maryam said the state must implement the Freedom of Information Act to allow for access to information that will expose corruption, adding that “the past governments of the state spent N47 billion on water but yet we are battling with water scarcity in the state.”

The Public Dialogue was attended by Civil Society Organizations under the leadership of the Kano state Civil Society Forum, the media and members of the general public.

Earlier, a group, Good Governance and Advocacy Group (GGAG), warned against what it described as premeditated attempt by the government of Kano to ridicule Ganduje.

The coalition said there was a sinister move by the Kano government using the apparatus of the state anti-corruption commission to bring the name of Ganduje to disrepute through a politically motivated dialogue.

In a statement released Wednesday in Kano by the Secretary of the Coalition, Muhammed Lawan Shuaibu, the coalition said the attempt was aimed at denting the image of the former Chief Executive who enjoys a good relationship with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to prevent him from securing an appointment.

Anyim, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation under President Goodluck Jonathan, arrived at the Villa a few minutes before 2 pm alongside former National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, Olisah Metuh.

In 2022, Anyim declared his intention to run for President on the PDP’s ticket.

The party later suspended Anyim in March 2023 for alleged anti-party activity when he supported the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru.

Meanwhile, Metuh publicly resigned from the PDP and partisan politics in October 2022.

In his letter dated October 25, 2022, and addressed to the party’s National Chairman, Metuh premised his decision on medical grounds.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Senator Anyim said amidst other heart-to-heart discussions, Wednesday’s visit was mainly to encourage and congratulate the President on his inauguration and the successes he has so far achieved.

“It was a great honour to pay courtesy to the President and congratulate him, first and foremost, for his successful inauguration as the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and also to encourage and congratulate him for the bold he has taken so far.

“We had a whole lot of heart-to-heart discussions, but primarily, it’s to congratulate him,” Anyim said.

Also speaking, the former PDP spokesman, Metuh, said although the country had bled for the past eight years, he is confident that the Tinubu administration will achieve national unity.

“We came to see the President, to commend him for his very good takeoff; the policies he has brought, his inclusiveness, and most of all to canvass for the idea of participatory governance, participatory democracy.

“We believe that for policies and programmes, there has to be options and alternatives for those programmes, but only when we are together can we achieve success.

“Our nation has bled for over eight years, but we believe that from now onwards, Mr President has shown the way that the country will come together and then we’ll be able to live happily.”

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has formally launched an investigation against former governor of the state, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje over the alleged bribery videos.

The chairman of the commission, Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado revealed this on Tuesday in a press conference while confirming the arrest of a former commissioner of the state, Engineer Idris Wada Saleh over an alleged N1billion fraud.

The anti-graft boss had while appearing on a Trust TV programme penultimate week vowed to reopen the investigation against Ganduje over the controversial videos allegedly showing the ex-governor stuffing the pocket of his free flowing dress with wads of US dollar bills allegedly received as kickbacks from contractors, an allegation the ex-governor has vehemently denied.

Rimingado, however, revealed that the commission has formally commenced the investigation and that it has received and is currently analysing the forensic reports on the videos.

“We have formally reopened the investigation and we have made several inroads. There is no extant court order barring us from the steps we are taking, which is investigation contrary to what some people want the public to believe,” he said.

He also revealed that the commission has written a letter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to seek partnership in the investigation and possible prosecution of the former governor and while it has not receive any feedback from the EFCC, the state anti-graft commission will continue with its investigation and welcome the EFCC and other investigating agencies should they decide to collaborate with it.

On the arrested former commissioner, the anti-graft boss said its preliminary investigation has monumental fraud to the tune N1billion on the guise of repairing some metropolitan roads few weeks to the end of the past administration.

He said the ex-commissioner, who was also Managing Director, Kano Road Maintenance Agency (KARMA) was arrested alongside the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mustapha Madaki Huguma as well as the director of finance, director of research and planning of the Bureau late Monday.

He said the money in question was said to have been withdrawn in three tranches, paid into account of three companies on April 25th and that the civil servants arrested alongside the ex-commissioner have allegedly made confessional statement confirming that they were pressured by the ex-commissioner to approve the release of the funds despite being skeptical of the legality of the process.

“The Due Process office said the certificate of no objection was issued because Kano Road Maintenance Agency said the rehabilitation of the roads would be carried out through direct labour but the papers submitted read otherwise,” he said.

Meanwhile, a Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Kano has ordered the remand of the former commissioner in the custody of the anti-graft Commission for 12 days pending the conclusion of investigation.

He was brought before the court Tuesday evening on a two-count charge bordering on false information and cheating.

The prosecutor, Salisu Tahir, an Assistant Director at PCACC, told the court that sometimes in 2023 the defendant released the sum of N1 billion to Arafat Construction Company, No Stone Construction Company and Multi Resources to rehabilitate 30 roads in the metropolis that were not carried out. He applied for the remand of the accused person for 14 days.

But the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The defence counsel, Mustapha Idris, urged the court to grant the defendant bail pursuant to section 35(6) and 36(5) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

But ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Tijjani Sale-Minjibir, ordered the remand of the defendant in PCACC custody for 12 days and ordered that he be put under good condition.

He adjourned the matter until July 14 for ruling on the bail application.

A Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, has affirmed Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph as the Labour Party (LP) gubernatorial candidate for the 2023 Governorship Election in Imo State.

The judge, Justice B. O Quadri said Chief Ukaegbu is the valid candidate of the Labour Party and the primary election held on April 16, 2023, was legitimate.

The plaintiff, Basil Maduka, had claimed that the primary election took place on April 15, 2023, but Justice Quadri found no merit in this assertion.

The court determined that Basil Maduka, the plaintiff, did not participate in the party’s primary election and therefore lacked the standing to bring the case against the defendant.

Consequently, Justice Quadri ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph’s name as the authentic Gubernatorial Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the 2023 Governorship Election in Imo State.

Previous ruling had established that Julius Abure was suspended by the FCT High Court. Any primary, screening, or party activities conducted by Abure were deemed non-existent.

As a result, Lamidi Apapa was declared the authentic Acting National Chairman. This ruling further solidifies the validity of the April 16, 2023 primary, affirming Ikechukwu Joseph Ukaegbu as the legitimate candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the November 11, 2023 election in Imo State.

President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, met with a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; and a former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, at the Aso Villa in Abuja.

Anyim, a former President of the Senate, was one of PDP’s presidential aspirants for the 2023 elections, while Metuh resigned from the main opposition party and from partisan politics last October.

The details of the meeting were unknown as of press time.

Wednesday’s meeting came about one month after Tinubu, an All Progressives Congress (APC) powerbroker and candidate in the February 25 poll, met with a group of aggrieved politicians within PDP known as the G5 or the Integrity Group.