Police Allegedly Arrest Lawyer Leading Prosecution Against Ganduje And His Children

Police officers allegedly carried out an operation that led to the arrest of Muhuyi Magaji, the lawyer leading the corruption case against former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and members of his family.

The development has drawn backlash from rights groups and sparked strong criticism from the Kano State Government.

This controversy follows a September report accusing Ganduje of secretly transferring the state’s shares in the Dala Inland Dry Port to private individuals, including his children and an aide, before approving a contract worth more than four billion naira for the project.

Witnesses said Magaji, who previously headed the Kano Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, was arrested at his law office on Zaria Road by a team of heavily armed officers believed to have come from Abuja.

One of his colleagues, Auwalu Ibrahim, told Channels Television that the police stormed the area in a forceful manner, arriving with a truck filled with armed personnel who warned that they would not hesitate to use force.

He said Magaji was initially taken to the Kano State Police Command but was quickly moved out of the state to an unknown destination.

Magaji’s arrest comes as Kano government continues to pursue criminal charges against Ganduje, his children, and several associates.

They are accused of transferring Kano’s 20 percent ownership of the Dala Inland Dry Port to private interests through a company called City Green Enterprise, a move the state says effectively stripped Kano of its stake in the multibillion-naira project.

Amnesty International reacted on Friday night, calling Magaji’s arrest unlawful and politically driven.

The organisation said the incident reflects a growing pattern of disregard for the rule of law and noted that Magaji has faced pressure in the past because of his efforts to expose alleged corruption under Ganduje’s administration.

The Kano State Attorney General also issued a statement expressing concern, saying the arrest appeared to have been carried out without a warrant or any form of judicial approval.

The state noted that it received no official notice of the operation, despite its high-profile nature.

The Attorney General added that court orders were already in place restricting the police from arresting or intimidating Magaji.

He criticised the deployment of more than forty armed officers, calling it excessive at a time when the country is dealing with major security problems.

He further suggested that political actors outside Kano might be trying to use federal security forces to disrupt the state’s investigations and create instability.

The government demanded a public explanation from the police and said it would take lawful steps to protect Magaji and other citizens involved in ongoing cases.

As of Saturday morning, neither the police nor any federal agency had given details about Magaji’s whereabouts or the reasons behind his arrest.

The Kano State Government urged residents to remain calm, saying the situation poses a serious challenge to the justice system and public order.

Civil society organisations are also mobilising and calling for transparency, warning against what they describe as political interference in law enforcement.

KanyiDaily reported how Kano Government filed a lawsuit at the State High Court against Abdullahi Ganduje, his two sons, and several others over alleged financial misconduct.