Bribery Video: Ganduje Enjoys Immunity From Prosecution – Buhari
At a political rally of the All Progressives Congress in Kano, President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday raised Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s hands to the crowd, declaring his support for his second term ambition.
Speaking on the widely speculated video where where Gandjue was seen collecting kickbacks from contractors, Buhari said the governor, as long as he occupies his position, enjoys immunity from prosecution.
He also said that, according to Nigeria law, an accused remained innocent until proven guilty by the courts.
Buhari was trying to clear the gossip in some quarters that he is shielding his political associates like Gandjue among others despite the obvious evidence.
The President told the crowd that apart from the governor immunity, the case was already in court.
Later, Mr Garba Shehu, a senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to
Shehu claimed that many high-profile persons, including a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and a former state governor, were among prosecuted ones under the President’s administration.
Prof. Usman Yusuf, the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme was also mentioned as another official of the government currently on suspension pending the outcome of investigations bordering on corruption.
“Despite some of the suspects being close to the President, he had not shielded them from investigation, administrative suspensions and prosecution”, the statement added.
Specifically, on Ganduje, the Presidency said, “as a sitting governor, (he) enjoys immunity from prosecution in his own right.
“Furthermore, under Nigerian laws, a suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
“In the circumstances, the matter is in court and the President has no power to dictate to the court or the Kano State House of Assembly, which is already investigating the matter, about what to do with the allegations against Ganduje.”
