Ganduje is also the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) the Nigeria Chapter of Transparency International and other civil society groups have described the withdrawal of policemen from the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission as an attempt to frustrate the ongoing probe of former governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.
Ganduje is also the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Kano State government had dragged Ganduje, his wife Hafsat Umar, and five others to court over alleged corruption charges, misappropriation, and diversion of funds during his eight-year tenure in office.
The eight corruption charges running into billions of naira were contained in a charge sheet dated 3rd April, 2024 with a 15-prosecution witnesses list attached.
According to the lawsuit, the other respondents are; Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lesage General Enterprises.
The Kano police command recently recalled the police officers attached to the state anti-graft agency with a view to conducting a staff audit aimed at ascertaining the exact number of police officers seconded to the commission.
However, the groups in a statement signed by 50 CSOs during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday condemed the withdrawal of the police officers, and urged the Nigerian police to avoid actions that may portray it as being submissive to politicians.
The CSOs called on IGP Kayode Egbetokun to promptly reinstate the police personnel withdrawn from the State Anti-Corruption Commission, to facilitate the effective execution of Commission’s duties.
The statement reads in part; "We are also concerned by the recent withdrawal of Police from the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission. This withdrawal of about 40 Police officers who were responsible for security and investigative tasks has not only hampered the work of the anti-corruption agency in Kano State, but also endangered the Police's obligation to operate with impartiality and independence.
"It appears that this move is not unconnected to the attempt to frustrate the ongoing investigations into corruption allegations levelled against the National Chairman of the ruling All-Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
"Growing concerns over the declining levels of autonomy and integrity of the judiciary must be addressed. The National Judicial Council must diligently monitor its members and promptly remove any corrupt judicial officer found to be compromising the judicial system. By doing so, it will significantly contribute to the restoration of sanity and the promotion of accountability within the nation.
"To truly establish a flourishing democracy, transparency and accountability must be strictly adhered to in governance. This requires holding politicians accountable for their actions and inactions, strengthening institutions to combat corruption, and ensuring that the allocation of resources is done in a fair and equitable manner. Only through these measures can Nigeria overcome its socio-economic challenges and build a democracy that truly serves the interests of the citizens.
"We urge IGP Egbetokun to promptly reinstate the police personnel withdrawn from the Kano State Anti-Corruption Commission, to facilitate the effective execution of Commission’s duties. Nigeria Police must avoid actions that may portray it as being submissive to politicians."