A Kano State High Court has adjourned the hearing of preliminary objections in the high-profile bribery and misappropriation case involving the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, and seven others to February 13, 2025.
The case, instituted by the Kano State Government, involves an eight-count charge of bribery, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds allegedly amounting to billions of naira. Alongside Ganduje, the defendants include his wife, Hafsat Umar, and others: Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.
At Wednesday’s hearing, legal representatives for the defendants presented a flurry of motions and applications, leading to the court’s decision to consolidate and adjourn for a unified hearing.
Counsel for Ganduje and two other defendants, M.N. Duru, SAN, holding brief for Offiong Offiong, SAN, requested the court to strike out an earlier application dated October 21, seeking facilities and a witness statement.
“We urge the court to strike out the application. My Lord, we intend to move our new application dated November 18,” Duru said.
He added that corrections were needed in the dates referenced in their affidavit and requested more time.
However, counsel for the applicants, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, argued that Ganduje’s withdrawal application should be dismissed rather than struck out.
“We have filed our counter affidavit dated November 15, 2024, and two additional counter affidavits dated October 18 and October 21. My Lord, we urge the court to dismiss the withdrawal application as it has not been moved,” Adedipe stated.
Several other defence counsels, including those representing the corporate defendants, also sought adjournments for corrections and consolidations in their filings.
Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu ruled on the matter, striking out Ganduje’s application and overruled objections raised by the applicants.
“The court will hear all preliminary objections on February 13, 2025,” Justice Adamu-Aliyu said, setting the stage for a critical hearing early next year.
