Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has revealed that documents related to the corruption cases against APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, were taken away by violent protesters during the recent #EndBadGovernance demonstrations.
The protests, which saw widespread vandalism and arson, also targeted the Kano State High Court of Justice, where the case files were stored, the Governor further revealed.
During an assessment visit to the High Court on Wednesday, Governor Yusuf expressed deep concern over the loss of the corruption trial documents involving the former governor.
He was accompanied on the visit by Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice Haruna Isah Dederi, Chief Registrar Abdullahi Ado Bayero, and other High Court judges.
In a statement released by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Mr. Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, it was alleged that the vandalism was a deliberate and orchestrated act, with hired individuals specifically targeting documents related to the corruption charges against Ganduje, his family, and associates.
“It is deeply regrettable that enemies of Kano State engaged hired thugs to vandalize this historic public building, with the specific aim of obstructing the corruption cases against the Acting National Chairman of the APC, former Governor Ganduje, and his close circle,” the statement said.
The statement further detailed the extent of the destruction, noting that the miscreants ransacked nearly every unit of the High Court, including the office of the Chief Judge, resulting in damages exceeding one billion naira.
In addition to the theft of critical documents, the attackers also destroyed office equipment, burned vehicles, and damaged other essential materials necessary for the administration of justice.
Governor Yusuf urged the youth of Kano State to avoid being manipulated into engaging in violence, advising them instead to focus on skill acquisition for a better future.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the lives and property of Kano’s residents.
The Governor emphasized the importance of safeguarding the judiciary, which he described as the last hope of the common man.
He directed the immediate rehabilitation of the damaged High Court building and the deployment of enhanced security measures to ensure the effective delivery of justice.
He also extended his condolences to Chief Judge Dije Abdu Aboki and the entire judiciary, urging them to recover what was lost for the sake of justice.
