The Kano State Government has accused the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the immediate past governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje, of attempting to influence the outcome of various tribunals in Kano and other states.

This is just as the state government condemned an alleged attempt to bribe a member of the Kano National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kano.

The chairman of the tribunal, Justice Flora Ngozi Azinge, had alleged that there was an attempt to bribe a member of the tribunal with money in order to sway justice in favour of his client, saying “money has been flying in the tribunal”.

Reacting to the allegation, the Kano State Government, in a statement issued by the State Commissioner for Information, Baba Halilu Dantiye, on Thursday, August 17, 2023, said some strong forces within the All Progressives Congress (APC) whose “eyes are on the tribunal are bent on repeating what they did in 2019”.

Dantiye added: “They are all out to use whatever means to sway justice as was done previously.

“It is an open secret that these strong forces who are well-known for their corrupt attitude are working tirelessly to scuttle the hard-earned mandate of the people of Kano State.

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“No doubt, all eyes are looking at the direction of the former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje whose accession to the APC national chairmanship was opposed by senior and founding members of the party and indeed majority of Nigerians because of various allegations cases of corruption.

“He certainly feels emboldened by what is generally perceived as his unfortunate and undemocratic selection as APC chairman who is rumoured to be all out to influence the outcome of various Election Petition Tribunals in Kano in particular and other states in general.

“The state government views this as a litmus test for present administration to show Nigerians its commitment to fighting corruption and defending democratic principles by ensuring that this case is thoroughly investigated and the culprits prosecuted. The anti-corruption agencies are equally expected to swing into action especially when this type of allegation was made in open court by a respected Judge.

“However, the government views with delight the action of the Tribunal chairperson Hon. Justice Flora Ngozi Azinge as a positive testimony that there is still hope in the Nigerian judiciary and there are Judges and Justices with high sense of integrity abound in our country.”

The commissioner, therefore, thanked the people of Kano for voting for the NNPP into power in the 2023 governorship election in Kano State,  adding that the state government “appreciates the readiness of Kano people to defend their mandate through whatever means possible”.

An aide to Ganduje who craved anonymity dismissed the allegation.

The aide promised to send a detailed response to the allegation.

The Star