Kano won’t interfere in Ganduje’s court cases — Commissioner

The Kano State Government has reaffirmed that it will not interfere in ongoing court cases involving former governor Abdullahi Ganduje, insisting that the judiciary must be allowed to operate independently.

The Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, gave the assurance in an interview with newsmen on Friday.

Waiya said Governor Abba Yusuf has maintained a consistent policy of non-interference in legal matters, regardless of who is involved.

“Governor Yusuf has never interfered in any case before the courts. Even if it involves one of his aides, whoever commits an offence and is taken to court, the governor will not interfere,” he said.

The clarification comes days after Yusuf defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a move he said followed wide consultations and was aimed at advancing Kano’s development.

At a reception held at the Government House to welcome the governor into the APC, Ganduje expressed confidence in Yusuf’s leadership and announced that the party had granted him an automatic ticket for the 2027 governorship election.

“You will win your second term in 2027. We have spoken to all aspirants, and they have agreed to support you. In APC, all serving governors are leaders of the party in their respective states. Therefore, you are the leader of the APC in Kano State,” Ganduje said.

Reacting to the government’s position, Ganduje’s former Chief of Staff, Mohammed Garba, described the assurance as reassuring, noting that respect for the independence of the judiciary is essential.

“We never expected them to interfere. The independence of the judiciary must be respected at all times,” Garba said.

He added that politically motivated cases should be fairly reviewed while others should proceed through due legal processes without pressure or bias.

Several high-profile cases involving Ganduje, including allegations linked to contract awards and financial management during his tenure as governor between 2015 and 2023, are currently pending before various courts.