I will approve Auta’s trial, says Ganduje

Kano State Governor Abdulahi Ganduje has said that he would not hesitate to approve the prosecution of Justice Kabiru Auta of the State High Court if found guilty.

Speaking to State House correspondents after a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa yesterday, Ganduje said he would not only approve for Auta to be sacked but also to be tried in a law court.

Justice Auta was recently recommended for outright dismissal by the National Judicial Council, (NJC) from the bench over allegations of bribery and corruption.

Specifically, the NJC had during its 78th meeting on September 29, 2016, chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed recommended Auta for prosecution.

While asking Ganduje to effect the dismissal, NJC also recommended that Auta be handed over to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 1, Kano, for prosecution.

The judge was accused of collecting about N197 million from one Alhaji Kabiru Yakassai, under the pretext that he had planned to use the money to help get accommodation for a Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN who was newly appointed at the time, assuring Yakassai that he would be rewarded with a contract by the CJN.

It was also learnt that Auta had agreed to refund N95 million to Yakassai, who had petitioned the NJC, but later admitted during his probe by the NJC panel that he only agreed to refund N35 million.

According to the governor: “It is a welcome development. Mr. President is serious about corruption and that aspect is an aspect of conscience. So, the state government is behind him and in fact the state government has established an anti-corruption outfit.

They are working very hard and we are complementing the efforts of the Federal Government.“I will approve his being tried in the court of law, not even sack. If the courts jail him, that’s okay by me.”