Bribery video: Ganduje enjoys immunity from prosecution – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari said on Thursday that Kano State
Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, enjoyed immunity from prosecution as a
sitting governor.

He also noted that under Nigerian laws, an accused remained
innocent until proven guilty by the courts.

Besides, the President noted that the alleged dollar bribes
Ganduje was seen stuffing in his pockets in a video widely
circulated on social media, had become a matter already in a law
court.

Buhari was reacting to criticisms in some quarters that he
shielded his political associates like Ganduje among others, from
prosecution in the face of glaring evidence.

Only on Thursday, the President, at an All Progressives Congress
rally in Kano, raised up the hand of Ganduje for his second term
bid before supporters.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and
Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Thursday, the President
dismissed criticisms suggesting that his association with Ganduje
was a smear on his anti-corruption stance.

The statement said some high-profile persons, including a former
Secretary to the Government of the Federation and a former state
governor, were being prosecuted for corruption.

The Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme,
Prof. Usman Yusuf, was also cited as another government official
serving administrative leave to pave the way for investigation into
corruption allegations levelled against him.

“Despite some of the suspects being close to the President, he
had not shielded them from investigation, administrative
suspensions and prosecution”, the statement added.

Specifically, on Ganduje, the Presidency said, “as a sitting
governor, (he) enjoys immunity from prosecution in his own
right.

“Furthermore, under Nigerian laws, a suspect is presumed
innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

“In the circumstances, the matter is in court and the President
has no power to dictate to the court or the Kano State House of
Assembly, which is already investigating the matter, about what to
do with the allegations against Ganduje.”