Bribery video: Buhari defends Ganduje, says he enjoys immunity from prosecution

Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari said on Thursday that Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, enjoyed immunity from prosecution as a sitting governor.

He also noted that under Nigerian laws, an accused remained innocent until proven guilty by the courts.

According to the Punch, Buhari was reacting to criticisms in some quarters that he shielded his political associates like Ganduje among others, from prosecution in the face of glaring evidence.

The President, at an All Progressives Congress rally in Kano, raised the hand of Ganduje and handed him over the party flag for his second term bid before thousands of supporters.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Thursday, the President dismissed criticisms suggesting that his association with Ganduje was a smear on his anti-corruption stance.

“Despite some of the suspects being close to the President, he had not shielded them from investigation, administrative suspensions and prosecution”, the statement added.

Specifically, on Ganduje, the Presidency said, “as a sitting governor, Ganduje enjoys immunity from prosecution in his own right.

“Furthermore, under Nigerian laws, a suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.