The Kano State Police Command has summoned a PREMIUM TIMES reporter, Abubakar Maishanu, for questioning.
Speaking with SolaceBase on Thursday, Mr Maishanu confirmed the invitation, stating that he reported to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the police command headquarters in Bompai.
He explained that the police initially sent a formal letter to PREMIUM TIMES’ office in Abuja, which was later forwarded to him.
According to him, the letter, signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Muhammad Jarma, requested that PREMIUM TIMES release him to report to the police for an undisclosed investigation.
“They asked me to report on Wednesday morning, but I only received the letter that same Wednesday morning,” he said.
Mr Maishanu added that he attempted to call the phone number provided in the letter, but the call did not go through.
He said he later emailed the police at the address provided in the invitation, informing them that he would honour the invitation on Thursday morning alongside his lawyer, Muhammad Muhammad.
”I was subsequently questioned by Assistant Commissioner of Police (X-Squad), AC Chika.
Also, the Kano Police Command Spokesman, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, later joined us in the course of the session.
According to him, Mr Chika explained that the invitation was in relation to an investigative report by Mr Maishanu last September.
“When I arrived on Thursday with my lawyer, they asked whether I was the author of a report on dealings involving the former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, in the multi-billion-naira Dala Inland Dry Port ownership. I confirmed that I wrote the report. They said the purpose of the invitation was to verify the authorship of the story, after which they allowed me to leave,” he said.
‘’After the interrogation, I was told that I will subsequently be invited if necessary.
SolaceBase reports that Mr Maishanu, in one of his investigations, exposed alleged irregularities involving former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje in the ownership of the multi-billion-naira Dala Inland Dry Port.
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Following the report, the Kano State Government initiated legal proceedings against Mr Ganduje and other defendants at the State High Court.
They are accused of conspiring to fraudulently transfer 80 per cent of the shares of the Dala Inland Dry Port, including the state government’s 20 per cent equity, into private ownership.
The prosecution also alleged that the defendants diverted more than ₦4.49 billion in Kano State funds to execute infrastructure projects at the dry port, including the construction of a dual carriageway, provision of electricity, and perimeter fencing, for personal and family benefit.
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