KANO, Nigeria — The Kano State government made a decisive legal pivot on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, by withdrawing a lawsuit aimed at preventing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from investigating alleged bribery involving former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, which was caught on video.
The previous state administration had initially sought to shield the former governor by filing a suit at the Federal High Court in Kano.
The suit aimed to prohibit the EFCC from investigating or questioning not only the former governor but also the former Executive Chairman and Director Finance of the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, and the Accountant General of Kano State in connection with the video clips.
The former Attorney General had mandated Sanusi Musa SAN of Aliyu & Musa Legal Practitioners to pursue the case on the state government’s behalf.
However, a change in government brought about a shift in legal stance.
The new Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General, Haruna Dederi, spearheaded the decision to withdraw the lawsuit.
According to a notice of discontinuance filed by Amina Yargaya, the Solicitor General of the Kano State Ministry of Justice, the withdrawal is in compliance with Order 50 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2019, as amended.
Additionally, a letter dated July 4, 2023, was sent to Sanusi Musa SAN, instructing him “not to take any further steps on the matter, either by appearing in court or filing any processes in respect of the case.”
This withdrawal signifies a remarkable shift in the Kano State government’s stance and potentially paves the way for the EFCC to proceed with the corruption investigation involving the former governor.
It remains to be seen what implications this decision will have for former Governor Ganduje and other officials who were implicated in the alleged bribery scandal.
The case has attracted significant attention both nationally and internationally as it revolves around high-profile political figures and public funds.
Observers are closely watching developments, as this case could have far-reaching consequences for political accountability and the rule of law in Nigeria.
