Kano Governor Abba Yusuf Decries Damage to State High Court After Violent Unrest

Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the Kano State High Court, which was vandalized, looted, and razed during the recent nationwide protests against hunger, according to a statement from the governor’s office.

During the visit, Governor Yusuf was accompanied by the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Dederi, the Chief Registrar of the high court, Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero, and some judges.

“It is very unfortunate that enemies of Kano State hired undesirable elements to vandalize one of the historic public buildings with a mission to subvert the corruption charges against the acting National Chairman of the APC and former governor of the state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his family and aides,” Yusuf was quoted as saying.

The governor lamented that the “hired miscreants carted away corruption charges documents” related to the multiple charges Ganduje has been facing before the state high court.

 According to the statement, the hoodlums “destroyed virtually all units of the high court, including the office of the state Chief Judge, with loss amounting to more than N1bn through the stealing of office equipment, destroying offices, burning cars and other relevant materials crucial to the dispensation of justice.”

Governor Yusuf called on the youth of Kano State to refrain from being used by “detractors to engage in violence” and instead focus on skills acquisition to better their future, promising them the government’s support.

The governor ordered the immediate rehabilitation of the courthouse and the deployment of more security to ensure effective justice delivery. He also commiserated with the Kano State Chief Judge, Justice Dije Abdu Aboki, and the entire judiciary over the incident.

The management of the state high court had earlier lamented the invasion, vandalism, and burning of the high court, saying an investigation had begun to track down the perpetrators.