Court restrains DSS, Kano agency, police from arresting Ganduje

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) and the police have been given an interim order by a federal high court in Kano restraining them from arresting Abdullahi Ganduje over alleged dollar bribe videos.

Recall that the agency on Thursday invited the former governor, Ganduje, to appear before it next week to have the opportunity to clear his name in the ongoing investigation.

Other parties restrained from taking action against Ganduje are the inspector-general of police (IGP), Kano commissioner of police, the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the attorney-general of the federation, and the attorney-general of Kano.

In 2018, Daily Nigerian, an online newspaper, published a video of Ganduje allegedly receiving bundles of dollars from contractors, which he stuffed into his “babanriga”, a traditional outfit.

The newspaper said the former governor requested $5 million as a bribe from the contractors who recorded the video.

In the interim order issued on Friday, A.M Liman, the judge, said the directive would remain in effect pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion.

Hemba, a counsel to Ganduje, had filed the suit.

The order reads: “Restraining the respondents, whether by themselves or acting through their officers, men, operatives, agents, or any persons or group of persons howsoever described, from harassing, intimidating, detaining the applicant or his children, or any member of his family, or any appointee who served under the administration of the applicant, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating motion.

“An order restraining the respondents, whether by themselves or acting through their officers, men, operatives, agents, privies, or any persons or group of persons howsoever described, from harassing, arresting, inviting, or detaining the applicant or his children, or any member of his family, or any appointee who served under his administration, or forcefully taking over properties of his children or any member of his family, or any appointee who served under his administration, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating motion.”