How Hoodlums Vandalised Kano High Court, Stole Ganduje Corruption Case Files During Protest

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, conducted an on-the-spot inspection of the Kano State High Court on Wednesday after it was vandalized, looted, and set ablaze during the recent nationwide hunger protests, which escalated into violence in parts of the North.

Governor Yusuf expressed deep regret over the invasion and destruction of the state high court by hoodlums, lamenting that “the hired miscreants carted away corruption charges documents related to the former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who is facing multiple charges before the state high court.”

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In a statement released on Wednesday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Tofa, it was noted that the governor was accompanied on the inspection by the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Dederi, the Chief Registrar of the high court, Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero, and several judges.

Governor Yusuf was quoted as saying, “It is very unfortunate that enemies of Kano State hired undesirable elements to vandalize one of the historic public buildings with the intent to subvert the corruption charges against the acting National Chairman of the APC and former governor of the state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his family, and aides.”

According to the statement, the hoodlums caused extensive damage, “destroying virtually all units of the high court, including the office of the state Chief Judge, with losses amounting to more than N1bn due to the theft of office equipment, destruction of offices, burning of cars, and other relevant materials crucial to the dispensation of justice.”

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Governor Yusuf urged the youths of Kano State to avoid being manipulated by detractors into engaging in violence and to instead focus on acquiring skills that would secure their future, assuring them of the government’s support.

EKO HOT BLOG gathered thathe ordered the immediate rehabilitation of the courthouse and the deployment of additional security personnel to ensure effective justice delivery.

The governor also expressed his condolences to the Kano State Chief Judge, Justice Dije Abdu Aboki, and the entire judiciary over what he termed an unfortunate incident.

He further commended the people of the state for their continued support and cooperation with his administration, praying for the continued peace, stability, prosperity, and economic development of the state.

The management of the state high court had, in a statement on August 4, decried the invasion, vandalism, and burning of the high court, confirming that an investigation had commenced to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.

The court’s spokesperson, Baba Ibrahim, recounted that on August 1, rioters, who identified themselves as #EndBadGovernment protesters, broke into the premises of the state high court, vandalized offices, and “stole an unspecified amount of money and guns that had been seized from kidnappers and were being held as exhibits in ongoing cases.”

Ibrahim added, “Private and official vehicles parked on the premises of the court were either set on fire or vandalized by the protesters. Offices, including those of the Chief Judge and other judges, were also ransacked. The protesters destroyed both new and old case files and scattered everything within the buildings. Exhibits, including guns stored in the court’s evidence room, were also looted.

“This is the first time the Kano State Judiciary has witnessed such an incident. Vehicles parked on the court’s premises were also vandalized and looted.”

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