Alleged Misappropriation: Court Adjourns Ganduje, 7 Others’ Case Until April 15

A Kano State High Court has adjourned the hearing of all pending preliminary objections in the ongoing case of alleged bribery and misappropriation filed against the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, and seven others, until April 15.

NAN reports that the state government has instituted an eight-count charge concerning bribery allegations, misappropriation, and the division of public funds running into billions of Naira against Ganduje, along with his wife, Hafsat Umar.

Others involved are 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 of all pending applications on Thursday, Counsel to the state, Mr. Adeola Adedipe, SAN, told the court that he was ready to proceed.

Adedipe had filed a motion on notice on February 5, seeking an extension of time to enable them to regularize the preliminary objections filed by the 1st, 2nd, and 4th respondents.

Counsel to Ganduje, his wife, and Umar, Mrs. Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo, informed the court that she was ready to proceed.

Counsel to the 3rd and 7th defendants, Mr. Adekunle Taiye-Falola, informed the court that he was not ready to move his preliminary objection.

“My lord, we filed our application for an extension of time, dated December 12, 2024, to reply to our further and better affidavit on points of law. We need to regularize our processes,” he said.

Counsel to the 5th defendant, Mr. Sunusi Musa, SAN, also filed a motion on notice for an extension of time, filed on January 7, supported by 10 paragraphs of affidavits and a written address. He urged the court to grant the application.

Counsel to the 6th respondent, Mr. Abubakar Ahmed, informed the court that he had filed a notice of preliminary objection dated September 9, 2024, supported by a nine-paragraph affidavit and was ready to proceed.

Also, Counsel to the 8th defendant, Ibrahim Aliyu-Nasarawa, told the court that he was not ready to move his application, adding that he intended to file and reply on points of law.

The presiding judge, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, granted all the applications for an extension of time.

Adamu-Aliyu adjourned the matter until April 15, 2025, for the hearing of all pending preliminary objections.