Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has conducted an on-site evaluation of the Kano State High Court on Wednesday, which had been vandalized and set ablaze during recent nationwide hunger protests that escalated into violence in parts of Northern Nigeria.
During his visit, Yusuf expressed his dismay over the destruction caused by the assailants, noting that they had stolen sensitive documents related to corruption charges against former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
According to a statement from the governor's spokesperson, Sanusi Tofa, Yusuf was accompanied by the state’s Attorney General, Haruna Dederi, the Chief Registrar of the high court, Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero, and several judges as they toured the damaged premises.
Yusuf condemned the attack, characterizing it as a deliberate act orchestrated by those seeking to undermine the legal proceedings against Ganduje and his associates.
He stated, “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.”
The governor reported that the damage was extensive, with losses exceeding N1 billion due to the destruction of offices, theft of equipment, and the burning of vehicles essential for judicial operations.
He urged the youth of Kano to reject being manipulated into violence and instead focus on skill development, assuring them of government support in these endeavors.
Yusuf also ordered the immediate rehabilitation of the courthouse and called for increased security measures to ensure the effective delivery of justice.
In his remarks, he extended condolences to the Chief Judge of Kano State, Justice Dije Abdu Aboki, and the entire judiciary for the unfortunate incident, which he described as a significant setback.
