Kano asset recovery panel vows to resist primordial interests

.Ganduje, wife, others fault arraignment, ex parte motion

Kano State Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Public Asset Recovery has vowed to remain committed to the principles of fairness and honesty, adding that it will not be swayed by primordial interests of any kind.

However, the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje; his wife, Hafsat and six others have faulted their arraignment while objecting to the ex parte motion to serve them charges through substitute means.

Speaking at the inaugural sitting of the commission, yesterday, chairman of the panel, Hon. Justice Faruk Adamu, cleared the air that activities of the commission would be devoid of any primordial interest or sentiment.

Governor Abba Yusuf had, on Thursday April 4, 2024, inaugurated the 12-member panel with the clear mandate to review all sales or allocations of government-owned property within and outside the state between May 29, 2015 and May 29, 2023.

The commission is also entrusted to provide a comprehensive inventory of all such properties, provide estimated market value, and determine individuals or entities responsible for the sales and buyers.

Equally expected, as contained in the commission’s terms of reference, is to determine the role of government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) or individuals in the sales and make appropriate recommendations for the recovery.

Justice Adamu noted that the primary responsibility of the commission was fact-finding and recommendations, and not intended to witch-hunt any personality.

He stated: “I assure the government and the good people of Kano that the commission would discharge its assignment diligently and fairly. I wish to emphasise that the commission will remain committed to fairness and honesty and will not be swayed by primordial interests of any kind.”

The panel’s chairman urged any person with useful information or input that will assist the commission in its assignment to send it in writing for verification, after which he or she may be asked to appear before the commission to testify in person.

He appealed to the general public and the media to give the commission the maximum support and cooperation possible and to avoid the temptation to politicise the commission’s work commission, as doing so would be detrimental to the success of the fact-finding mission.

Arraignment of the former governor on alleged misappropriation of public funds failed again, yesterday, due to contention on service of charges.

Although the prosecution at the last hearing lamented the inability to personally serve the respondents with the charges, there were objections from the defendants against an ex parte motion to serve the charges through substitute means.

The presiding Judge, Usman Na’abba, had directed the prosecution to put the defendants on notice and further convince the court why the ex parte motion should be granted.

At the resumed hearing, yesterday, prosecution counsel, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), moved a fresh ex parte motion seeking the court’s leave to serve Ganduje and seven others the charges.

Adedipe held that the application was under Section 378 (5) of Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of Kano 1999, which provides leave to criminal service through substituted means.

In his ruling, Na’abba reserved ruling on the application on ex parte motion whether or not Ganduje and others should be served notice of charge through substitute means till May 16, 2024.