Impeachment looms as Kano Assembly begins probe on Ganduje bribe videos

The Kano House of Assembly has opened probe on the bribe-taking
videos of the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, published by DAILY
NIGERIAN.

Raising a matter of urgent public importance on Monday, a member
representing Warawa Constituency, Labaran Madari, said the assembly
should investigate the authenticity of the video and take
measures.

Mr Madari said the videos had brought the institution of
governance in the state to disrepute, and therefore the need for
the legislators to take urgent action.

The matter was seconded by Baffa Dan’Agundi, a member
representing Kano Municipal.

Responding, the speaker, Alhassan Rurum, constituted a seven-man
committee to investigate the matter and report back to the
assembly.

Members of the committee include Baffa Dan’Agundi (Kano
Municipal) as chairman; Labaran Madari (Warawa) member; Garba
Gafasa (Ajingi), member; and Zubairu Masu, (Sumaila) member.

Others are Ayuba Labaran (Kabo) member; Abubakar Galadima
(Bebeji), member; Garba Yau Gwarmai (Kunchi/Tsanyawa), member and;
Mujtafa Amin, secretary.

Inside sources told DAILY NIGERIAN that the assembly is planning
to serve the governor impeachment notice as soon as the committee
submits its report.

“This is a serious matter that should not be swept under the
carpet. We did preliminary investigation and found out the videos
are genuine. The committee is just mere formality,” said a member
who preferred anonymity.

“The governor confessed to some of us that it was real but he is
now trying to stop us from exercising our constitutional duty.”

Mr Ganduje has appeared in a trove of video clips receiving
bribe, amounting to about $5million from contractors in the
state.

Multiple contractors who spoke with DAILY NIGERIAN on the
condition of anonymity said the governor personally receives from
15 to 25 percent kickbacks for every project executed in the
state.

The sting operation to capture the governor on camera began two
years ago when one of the contractors agreed with DAILY NIGERIAN
request to plant spy camera on his kaftan lapel while offering the
bribe.

During about 10 months efforts to capture the bribe
giving/taking scenes, the governor’s face and body were clearly
captured in nine clips, while six others did not clearly reveal the
governor’s face. About $5m dollars were delivered to the governor
during the sting operation.

One of the contractors who preferred not to be named said the
reason he collaborated with DAILY NIGERIAN was to expose corruption
and bring sanity to the country.