Headlines
Court acquits Aminu Wali of N950m campaign fund charges
Nasiru Yusuf
The Federal High Court in Kano has on Friday discharged and acquitted former minister of foreign affairs Aminu Wali accused with receiving N950 campaign fund from PDP during 2015 presidential election.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Mr Wali and Mansur Ahmed with three count charges bordering around 950 million Naira campaign fund received from People Democratic Party PDP in 2015, an act that contravened Section 1 of money laundering prohibition Act 2011.
Delivering the judgement, the trial judge Lewis Allagoa said the prosecution has failed to probe their case beyond reasonable doubt.
Mr Allagoa averred that the prosecution though established that the money 950 million was received beyond the threshold allowed by law,It failed to establish the money was received outside a financial institution an ingredient of probing the case beyond reasonable doubt.
The court said that while the defendants have admitted to have collected the said money from a financial institution, EFCC couldn’t not prove the money laundering charge against them.
He therefore discharged and acquitted the defendants.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to EFCC Cosmos Ugwu described the judgment as “a well considered judgment.”
Mr Ugwu said, “we will take it as delivered, we will go back and study it and see what to do hereafter.
“I do not think the EFCC has gotten it wrongly because we charge base on the provision of the law. It doesn’t necessarily means that party was malicious in it prosecution, it only means that the element of the offense that ought to have been proved were not proved.
“The central issue was that whether there was transaction through a financial institution or not. Our argument was that it was not because you cannot go to Fidelity Bank and say give me the account from which this money was paid and you will get it.
“But, it is a new area of law so we would continue to work towards developing it so that subsequently when this kind of matter comes up we would have authority, we would have authorities to quickly bring to the aide of the court to say this is what the supreme has said.
“I am sure if the appeal court or supreme Court had interpreted the phrase ‘through a financial institution’ we wouldn’t have had the difficulties we had in trying to prove that it was not through a financial institution,” Mr Ugu said.
Commenting on the judgement, counsel to Messrs Wali and Ahmed, Sam Olagunorisa commended the judge for exhibiting erudition of law in his final verdict.
According to him “His lordship showed his erudition. He went through the law, and at the end of the day, it was very clear that, the entire transaction in this charge went through financial institution, which is one of the major cardinal ingredients before you can find anybody guilty for an offence of money laundering.
” Both the prosecution and defence agreed that the money went through Fidelity Bank. Fidelity Bank is the financial institution within the laws of Federal Republic of Nigeria. To that extent, one of the cardinal ingredients for which the prosecution must probe was found not existing. That account for the reason why the defendants were discharged and acquitted.
Reacting to the judgement Mr Wali expressed gratitude to God for vindicating him despite three years of litigation.
“God is there. God will never allow injustice to persist. I thanked Him and I thanked all for the support and the believed had in me that this thing never really happened, is all political,” Mr Wali said.
Messrs Wali and Ahmed were arraigned alongside former governor of Kano, Ibrahim Shekarau by EFCC before the court on May 24, 2018 on six count charges that the trio received the money on March 25, 2015 from PDP without transacting through a financial institution contrary to section 1(a) of Money Laundering Act 2011, punishable under section 16 (2b) of same act.
Mr Shekarau was later discharged and acquitted by the same court after he filed and won a case of no submission at the court of appeal leaving Wali and Ahmed with a three count charges before the Federal High court.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA), Kano State Chapter, has elected Hassan Ibrahim Gama as its new State Coordinator.
KANO FOCUS reports that Gama emerged unopposed during the coalition’s 2026 state election, which was described as peaceful and transparent.
The election was conducted by an election committee chaired by Dr. Auwalu Halilu, who said the exercise marked another milestone in strengthening the coalition’s leadership and its commitment to promoting inclusive and quality education in Kano State.
Other officers elected are Mahdi Abdullahi, Deputy Coordinator; Sunusi Hashim, Secretary; Dr. Abubakar I. Hassan, Assistant Secretary; Ghazali I. U., PRO I; Abdulbaki Mohd, PRO II; and Muhammad Abdullahi, PRO III.
Others are Garba Hamma Dikko, Provost; Rukayya Abdulrahman, Financial Secretary; Saratu Maigida, Treasurer; and Suleiman Zubair, Auditor.
Halilu expressed appreciation to the CSACEFA National Secretariat, represented at the election by its Policy Advisor, Mrs Ordinaka, for the guidance and support provided throughout the electoral process.
He also commended members of the election committee, CSACEFA Kano members and other stakeholders for their cooperation in ensuring the success of the exercise.
The election committee chairman congratulated the newly elected leadership and urged them to build on the achievements of the coalition by strengthening civil society participation, advocacy, accountability and strategic partnerships.
He tasked the new executives with working towards improving education service delivery and advancing the Education for All agenda in Kano State.
The former Kano State Coordinator of CSACEFA, Prof. Muhammad Bello Shitu, and the Kano State Chairman of the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) Alhaji Tijjani Haladu Baraya, were among the dignitaries who supervised the conduct of the election.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described the Hausa people as important pillars of Nigeria’s unity and progress.
KANO FOCUS reports that the President said the Hausa language had grown beyond its traditional boundaries to become a major language of unity and commerce across the world.
Tinubu stated this in a message posted on his verified Facebook account on the occasion of Hausa Day, being celebrated at the historic Daura Palace.
“The Hausa people are great pillars that play a vital role in the unity and progress of Nigeria,” the President said.
He added that “the Hausa language, without doubt, has flourished and has become a major language of unity and commerce across the world.”
The President congratulated the Hausa community on the occasion, describing the celebration at Daura Palace as an important event.
“I congratulate the vast Hausa community on the occasion of Hausa Day, which is being celebrated at the historic Daura Palace today,” Tinubu said.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has urged Muslims across the state and Nigeria to emulate the exemplary life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as they commemorate Maulud.
KANO FOCUS reports that the governor made the call in a statement issued by his spokesman, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Tuesday.
Yusuf congratulated Muslims on the occasion and urged them to use the celebration to reflect on the life and teachings of the Prophet, particularly his virtues of peace, justice, compassion, honesty, patience and tolerance.
He called on Muslims to demonstrate these values in their daily lives while promoting peaceful coexistence, unity and mutual respect among people of diverse backgrounds.
The governor also urged parents, religious leaders and community elders to intensify efforts to educate younger generations on the teachings and exemplary conduct of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
Yusuf prayed for continued peace, stability and prosperity in Kano State and Nigeria, while urging residents to support initiatives aimed at improving the wellbeing of citizens.
The governor also used the occasion to pray for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, wishing them a successful first tenure and a smooth re-election bid in 2027.
He urged Muslims to use the Maulud celebration to pray for peace, progress and unity across the country, and wished the faithful a peaceful and spiritually rewarding celebration.
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