Abdullahi Umar Ganduje
GandujeDollar: Investigation stalled as Court stops Assemby, EFCC incapacitated
Further investigation into the alleged bribery scandal involving Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, North-West Nigeria, has been bruised as a court in his state stops investigation by the Kano House of Assembly.
The Kano State high court, presided by Justice Ahmad Badamasi has ruled that Kano State House of Assembly has no power to investigate the $5 million bribery allegation. He said investigating criminal offence is the function of agencies under executive arms such as police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC)
But the EFCC and ICPC have not shown commitment to investigate Ganduje. Instead, the EFCC has been reported to have collected cash gift, running into millions of Naira from the accused person recently
Delivering the judgement on Thursday, the judge said collecting bribe from contractors is a criminal offence in section 115 and 116 of penal code, and the House has no capacity to investigate criminal offences.
Badamasi therefore gave an order restraining the House from interview or inviting any person on the bribery allegation against Mr Ganduje as published by the Daily Nigerian newspaper.
A Nigerian-based online news site, Daily Nigerian, released a video of Ganduje collecting money from suspected contractors and stuffing the cash into his over-sized cloth.