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•Invitation politically motivated -APC
By Emma Emeozor and Desmond Mgboh, Kano
The Kano State Public Complaint and Anti Corruption Commission (PCACC) has invited the state’s former governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to appear before it over the case of a purported dollar video clip.
A statement signed yesterday by the spokesman of the commission, Abba Kabir, said the former governor was billed to appear before the commission next week.
Speaking earlier at a one-day dialogue on anti – anti-corruption crusade organised by the commission, its Chairman, Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, said a test by forensic experts had confirmed the dollar video clip.
“I have signed a letter to invite him for questioning at the commission next week, because this is what the law says, and we will provide ample opportunity for him to defend himself,” he assured.
Asked what the commission would do should Ganduje refuse to honour the invitation, Rimingado said: “There is what the law provides; the law is coercive in nature, it compels obedience. The law doesn’t lobby you to come and do certain things. There are procedures and we will follow all the necessary steps to do what is needful”.
Rimingado, however, said the agency’s belief in the legal maxim of “innocent until proven guilty” will apply to the ex-governor as it does to all, adding that he will be given the opportunity to finally clear his name of the allegation since he (Ganduje) has reiterated his innocence through the media.
Regardless, the former governor has since denied the purported content of the video, insisting that it was doctored with the intention to undermine him.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has asked Ganduje not to honour the invitation by an anti-corruption commission.
A statement jointly signed by the state Chairman and Secretary of the party, Abdullahi Abbas and Zakari Sarina, respectively, noted that the invitation was politically motivated by the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) administration in the state.
The party held that the case, which is before a court of law, was part of a sinister ploy to dent the image of the former governor of the state. The statement further claimed that a similar scenario was enacted in 2019 to scuttle Ganduje’s chance of securing a ticket for the party’s governorship election.
The statement added that “the detractors are engaged in this campaign of calumny to draw a wedge between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Ganduje, one of the president’s strongest allies in the North.”
Also reacting on behalf of Ganduje, the state’s former Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Muhammad Garba described the allegations made against the ex-governor as “trumped up” to open a window for the ex-governor’s political detractors to rubbish his image and wreck any political plan by President Bola Tinubu may have for him. Garba is Ganduje’s ally.
He said: “It is politically motivated to dent his image and to scuttle any future plans that they know President Bola Tinubu has for him because they are envious of the good relationship that existed between them so they want to bring a relationship problem between Governor Ganduje and President Tinubu.”
