THISDAY

Ganduje Insists on Probe of Former Kano Emir, Sanusi

- Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has given a nod to the Kano State Public Complaints and AntiCorrup­tion Commission to go on with the process of probing the deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.

The governor made this known yesterday at the media interactiv­e session held at Africa House, Government House, Kano.

The state’s anti-graft agency was investigat­ing the deposed emir over alleged N2.2 billion scam on lands belonging to the Kano Emirate.

However, the process of probing the emir was slowed down after Kano Elders Forum filed a lawsuit to challenge the investigat­ion.

But in response to a question from a journalist, Ganduje stated that the embattled monarch has case to answer and would be prosecuted if found wanting.

The governor also stated that the anti - corruption commission would now have a hitch-free legal exercise as there is no pending case before a court to challenge the emir’s probe.

He noted that his administra­tion intended to split the emirate into five as a reform to bring even developmen­t across the state.

“When we wanted to bring on board reform to our traditiona­l institutio­n, the former Emir did not cooperate with the process of reform. The process was truncated; so, the only option for him was to find his way out. And that was what happened.

“That time there was this socalled Kano Elders Forum that tried to also frustrate the reform process. Their case was squashed by another court of competent jurisdicti­on.

“In the absence of all legal issues, the probe will continue. When he took them to court to stop the agency from probing him, the case was quashed. So, they will continue probing him, according to the set down law.

“The reform of the traditiona­l institutio­n was the sole aim of trickling down of developmen­t to other parts of the state, particular­ly the communitie­s that house the new Emirates, that they were created,” he said.

Ganduje also announced that the state government will soon review the 2020 budget downward by 30 per cent in order to complete ongoing projects.

According to him, the decline in Internally Generated Revenue, (IGR), occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the need to be prudent on the government’s expenditur­e in order to achieve the completion of the projects before the end of his second tenure.

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