The Kano State Government has filed an 11-count
charge against former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his wife Hafsat
Ganduje, and several others over allegations of bribery, conspiracy,
misappropriation, and diversion of public funds running into billions of
naira.
Others charged alongside the former governor include Abubakar
Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited,
Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.
When the case came up for hearing, prosecution
counsel, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), informed the court that the state was
fully prepared to open its case, noting that witnesses were already present.
“My Lord, the prosecution is fully prepared to
proceed. Our witnesses are present, and we are ready to open our case. We urge
the court to dismiss the respondents’ applications and allow the matter to go
on,” Adedipe said.
However, counsel to Ganduje, his wife, and son,
Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo, told the court that they were not ready to
proceed, citing improper service of newly filed documents.
“My Lord, we have filed our further and better
affidavit dated and filed on July 17, 2025. Although we have served the
parties, service has not been properly effected. We seek an adjourned date to
regularize this,” she stated.
Similarly, Chief M. N. Duru (SAN), representing
the 3rd and 7th defendants, requested an adjournment to enable the proper
hearing of motions his clients had filed earlier in May.
Also, counsel to the 5th defendant, Sunusi
Musa (SAN), informed the court that his team had filed an application
for a stay of proceedings pending the determination of an appeal before the
Court of Appeal.
In the same vein, Abubakar Ahmad, counsel to
the 6th defendant, said they had entered a notice of preliminary objection
and were therefore not ready for hearing, while Abdulrazaq A. Ahmed,
representing the 8th defendant, argued that the case was only for mention,
not for substantive hearing.
In her ruling, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu
expressed displeasure over the repeated delays, warning all parties to
ensure proper filing and service of motions before the next sitting.
“All parties are hereby ordered to file and serve
their pending motions before the next date. The court expects full compliance,”
the judge ruled.
Justice Adamu-Aliyu thereafter adjourned the case
to November 26, 2025, for the hearing of all pending applications.
The case has continued to attract widespread public
interest, being one of the most high-profile corruption trials involving
a former state governor in recent years.
Comments:
Leave a Reply