News Editor
The Ganduje’s family has once again made headlines albeit for the wrong reason as eldest son of the governor, Abdulazeez Ganduje, has threatened legal action against his father’s led Kano State government for failure to pay the sum of N82 million to his company, Global Firm Nigeria Limited, being final payment of a contract he allegedly executed for the state government.
Daily Nigerian exclusively gathered that on February 13, 2020, governor Ganduje approved contract for “CONVERSION OF MARIRI REHABILITATION CENTER TO IDP GIRLS SCIENCE AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE” to his son’s company at the cost of N189,913,590.54.
On May 7, 2021, the company was paid N94,556,795.27 through referral payment from the state Ministry of Local Government, representing 50 percent of the contract sum, leaving the balance of 50 percent.
After a downward review the contract by the ministry to the tune of N177,619,259.36, another contract for the the supply of computers and furniture for the administrative block and entrepreneurship items at the cost of 12,294,331.23 was awarded to the company to cover the deficit.
But to Abdulazeez’s dismay, his father refused to approve the final payment of N82,662,464.04, despite allegedly executing the project, writing to the ministries concerned and involvement of some associates of the governor.
This is not the first time Abdulazeez is making headlines for dragging his parents before the law. In September 2021 he wrote a petition to the EFCC against his mother, Hafsat Ganduje, over a multi-million naira land deal he (Abdulaziz) facilitated.
In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Education and seen by Daily Nigerian, Abdulazeez’s solicitors demanded payment of N82,662,464.04 within seven days or take legal action.
When contacted, the governor’s son confirmed his resolve to take legal action over the issue, but said his father refused to approve the payment over his (Abdulaziz) refusal to give kickback in cash to Ganduje Foundation.
“I’m a very peaceful person. I did my best and explored all peaceful options to get the payment of my money, about N83 million, to no avail.
“I have not been paid either because of the petition I wrote against Goggo (his mother) or my refusal to give part of the money to Ganduje Foundation as kickback.
“I said I would not give cash, but donate materials to the foundation. But they insisted that I must donate money to the foundation and I swear to God that I will not.
“This is the money that I worked hard for. I executed the project diligently at the Mariri IDP centre. I have been waiting patiently to receive this money but there is no sign of paying it to me,” Abdulazeez added.
The state commissioner for Information Mohammed Garba did not respond to Daily Nigerian inquiry on the matter.
The executive secretary of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, PACAC, Sadiq Radda, on Thursday said Mr Ganduje has several questions to answer regarding corruption cases against him.
“You can see in Kano, Ganduje has many cases to answer while in office, he will answer more out of office and sadly for the first time in Nigeria a son is taking his mother to the EFCC,” Mr Radda said.
