The Federal High Court in Kano has delivered a judgement asserting that the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) lacks the jurisdiction to invite or investigate former state governor and APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, over the infamous dollar bribery video. The court's decision, delivered by Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman, emerged from a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Ganduje against the commission, seeking protection against potential breaches.
Ganduje had filed the case in July 2023 after being summoned by the PCACC chairman to address questions related to the dollar bribery video. The court had previously granted a restraining order against Ganduje's investigation until a final resolution of the suit.
The viral video, published in 2018 by Daily Nigerian, allegedly showed Ganduje receiving bundles of dollars from a contractor. Despite the accusations, Ganduje maintained the video was doctored. The court ruled that the offences being investigated were federal in nature, falling under the purview of agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), not the PCACC. The judgement emphasized Ganduje's entitlement to fundamental rights, including dignity, privacy, and property ownership.
While PCACC's counsel, Usman Fari, expressed reservations about the delay in delivering the judgement, Ganduje's counsel, Matthew Burkaa (SAN), praised the court's interpretation of the law. The court awarded no costs to either party, leaving room for potential appeals
