The First Lady of Kano State, Hafsat Ganduje, is reported to have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Indications are that she was arrested based on a petition by Abdulazeez, one of her sons, against her.
Reports stated that Mrs Ganduje had failed to honour the anti-graft commission’s invitation to appear at its Abuja headquarters on September 13, prompting investigators to move in on her, to effect her arrest on Monday.
It was gathered that she is being accused of using her position to perpetuate graft and land fraud.
Hafsat Ganduje had flown to London to attend the graduation of one of her sons.
This was after she ignored an invitation by the EFCC over alleged involvement in the fraud.
She was invited by the anti-graft agency recently over a petition by her eldest son, Abdulazeez.
Abdulazeez had dragged his mum to the EFCC, sources familiar with the matter said, suggesting a pattern of corruptly using family access to power for private enrichment.
A source said the young man had reported to the anti-graft agency that he was approached by a property developer to help facilitate the acquisition of some plots of land in Kano with some hundreds of thousands of US dollars and at least N35 million as “facilitation commission.”
It was further learnt that Abdulazeez said he paid the sum in dollars to his mother, Hafsat.
“But three months later, (the property developer) discovered that the plots of land he wanted and had paid the first family for had been allocated to other buyers and he then requested to be refunded,” the source was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, Ganduje’s media aide, Abubakar Ibrahim, despite the EFCC invitation, announced the London trip.
“Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje OFR, The First Lady, Prof. Hafsat Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Family attended the Graduation of the Youngest Son to the Family, Muhammad Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who graduated from the Regent’s University London as BA. (Hons). Global Management (Enterprise & Innovation). Today, Tuesday. 14/9/2021,” the official had said.
