APC petitions IG, demands arrest of nine masterminds over Ganduje’s suspension

By Adebayo Folorunsho-Francis and Tukur Muntari

The All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday, named nine persons who allegedly masterminded the suspension of its National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje.

The APC, which described the masterminds as impostors, said it had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to go after them.

The two-page petition, which was made available to The PUNCH on Thursday, was written by the APC National Legal Adviser, Prof. Abdulkareem Kana.

The nine suspects he listed in the petition are Auwalu Jemomi, Muhde Weti, Danmala Gale, Samaila Haladu, Laminu Sani Barguma, Musa Lado Lado Maishayi, Amadu Maishayi and Umar Amarwa

The letter read: “Specifically, on April 15, 2024, Auwalu Galadima Jemomi and his accomplices, claiming to be party executives of the APC from Ganduje Ward in Dawakin Tofa Local Government, Kano State, falsely issued a press statement suspending our National Chairman, Dr Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, from the party. This unauthorised and misleading statement has created significant confusion and unrest among our members and the public at large.

“Such impersonation and dissemination of false information are not only illegal but also have the potential to disrupt public peace and order. Therefore, I request the Nigerian Police Force to promptly investigate this matter and apprehend Auwalu Galadima Jemomi and his accomplices involved in this fraudulent act.

“Additionally, I request the police to identify and investigate any sponsors or conspirators associated with this incident beyond those explicitly named in this petition. I trust in the Nigerian Police Force’s commitment to upholding justice and ensuring that incidents of impersonation and false claims are decisively addressed to prevent future recurrence.”

The controversial situation began on Monday when the executives of the Ganduje Ward in the Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State declared Ganduje suspended.

The Legal Adviser of the ward, Haladu Gwanjo, who announced the suspension, linked it with the bribery charges filed against Ganduje by the Kano State Government.

Though the Kano State Chapter of the APC immediately overruled the suspension and instead slammed a six-month suspension on the ward executives, a lawyer, Dr. Ibrahim Sa’ad, took an ex parte application before Justice Usman Na’Abba of the Kano State High Court and obtained an order restraining Ganduje from parading himself as the APC National Chairman, following his suspension at the ward level.

The ex parte application, marked K/M658/2024, had the ward legal adviser, Gwanjo, and the Assistant Secretary, Laminu Sani, as plaintiffs.

But in a strange twist, Gwanjo, alongside other ward executives, met with Ganduje in Abuja on Wednesday, denying being behind the suspension and the court order.

The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, said the persons behind the suspension and the court order were not APC members but imposters allegedly working for the Kano ruling party, the New Nigeria People’s Party.

The ruling party vowed that it would not obey Justice Na’Abba’s order restraining Ganduje and also sent a petition against the Kano judge to the National Judicial Council.

On Thursday, the APC went before the Federal High Court in Kano to obtain another order voiding Ganduje’s suspension.

Justice A.M. Liman, who granted the order, declared as null and void Ganduje’s suspension.

He ruled: “All the respondents, their servants, agents or privies are hereby restrained from implementing and/or giving effect to the purported decision reached during the purported emergency meeting of the alleged executive members of APC Ganduje Ward, held at Ganduje Ward of Dawakin Tofa LGA.

“All the parties are hereby mandated to maintain the status quo before the purported emergency meeting of the alleged executive members of APC Ganduje Ward, and to stay action in respect of this matter, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application.”

Speaking on the court order in favour of Ganduje, Morka, on Thursday, reiterated that the ruling party would not honour the initial court order affirming Ganduje’s suspension.

Morka, who featured a guest on Arise TV on Thursday, affirmed that they had thrown their weight behind the Kano Federal High Court that recently called for a stay of the order.

He said, “First of all, the order issued by the first court was very disturbing, for a number of reasons.

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“First, the plaintiffs who purportedly filed that action is not recognised members of our party and, therefore, shouldn’t have the locus standi to invoke the authority of the court to make any such order.

“Secondly, every lawyer in this country is aware that from the Supreme Court up to the NJC, there is this cautiousness that judges don’t make orders that are far-reaching in effect on an ex parte motion or application.

“When you see the nature of the case and observe it is likely to cause the defendant substantial exposure to ridicule and justice, you put that defendant on notice within the context of even that ex parte application, so that the justice of the matter can be met.

“But this judge, in this case, basically upheld the illegal suspension of a national chairman, did so on an ex parte application, which shouldn’t be.

“Being a lawyer, I have a lot of respect for the court and won’t say much. But be that as it may, as I speak, that order of the Kano State High Court purportedly affirming the suspension of our national chairman has not been served on the party and the national chairman himself.

“So, this conversation and every other one relating to this has really been based on media reports. In other words, we do not have legal notice of that order.”

Ganduje’s son backs father’s probe

Meanwhile, the eldest son of Ganduje, Abdulazeez, paid a visit to the Chairman of Kano State Anti-corruption and Public Complaints Commission, Mr Muhuyi Magaji, on Wednesday, declaring solidarity for the probe of his father.

An official of the agency, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, confirmed Abdulazeez’s visit.

“Yes, indeed, Abdulazeez was here in the office of the Chairman of CAPCC on Wednesday evening,” the source said.

Abdulazeez reportedly visited the anti-graft agency to show support for the commission’s case against his father, mother and brother.

Recall that in 2021, Abdulazeez dragged Hafsat, his mother, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over a bribery and land fraud case.

In its determination to prosecute Ganduje, the Kano State government filed criminal charges against him over alleged $413,000, N1.38bn bribery, with the state assembling 15 witnesses to testify against Ganduje.

Ganduje, who was joined by his wife, Hafsat and son Umar, in the charge sheet dated April 3, 2024, sighted by The PUNCH, was however absent in court for arraignment on Wednesday.

APC petitions IG, demands arrest of nine masterminds over Ganduje’s suspension