Kano Gov. Establishes Panels To Investigate Doguwa, Ganduje

Abba Kabir Yusuf

ABBA Kabir Yusuf, the governor of Kano State, has established two Judicial Commissions of Inquiry (JCIs) to investigate cases involving political violence, theft of public property, and unaccounted-for deaths in the State from 2015 to 2023.

Governor Yusuf pledged to investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for incidences of political violence documented in the state prior to and during the general elections of 2015, 2019, and 2023. He also vowed to hold anyone found wanting to account for their actions during the JCIs' Thursday first session.

“Political violence is a major setback to democracy worldwide. It leads to loss of lives and property as well as mistrust on the part of the people and those in power.

“The disturbing cases of political killings especially in 2023 must not be swept under the carpet, this is to ensure we prevent future occurrences.

“Similarly, we have assured the people of the state that we shall also revisit the various forms of political violence perpetrated by unscrupulous elements during and after the elections. We will never allow the blood of the innocent citizens of the state to be spilled by heartless people in the name of politics or other forms of hatred,” the governor stated.

Investigating cases of political violence and missing persons from 2015 to 2023 is the first Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice Zuwaira Yusuf.

Ado Doguwa, a member of the House of Representatives serving the State's Doguwa/Tudun Wada federal constituency, was accused of planning the assassination of a few New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) members during the 2023 elections. This accusation sparked a retaliatory attack and the burning down of his home at Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu Estate.

Governor Yusuf assigned the second Commission of Inquiry, headed by Justice Faruk Lawan, the task of looking into instances of misuse of public assets and properties.

He instructed Justice Lawan and his group to keep looking for instances of public assets and properties being misappropriated, particularly by the previous administration led by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, both inside and outside the state.

However, he made sure to emphasize that this action was taken with the approval of the people of Kano State and was neither political nor directed towards any one person.

He issued the commissions strict instructions to uphold the state's legal system and to honor their oaths to the people of Kano State.

Governor Yusuf went on to say that the two commissions' chairsmen and members were carefully and thoroughly chosen, and he was still optimistic that they would perform as planned.

“We went through your records and we couldn't find any of you wanting. We believe in you and we expect your full reports in three months' time,” he stated.