The Kano State High Court announced that it will hear pending applications in a significant bribery case involving Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and seven other defendants.
The hearing is set for November 20, 2024. The case has garnered considerable attention due to its serious allegations, including bribery, misappropriation of public funds, and other financial misconduct that reportedly involves billions of Naira.
The state government has brought an eight-count charge against Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat Umar, and six other individuals and entities. The other defendants include Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.
The allegations center on their involvement in corrupt practices, raising concerns about the integrity of public office holders in the region.
During the latest court proceedings, various counsels representing the defendants voiced their concerns regarding the readiness to proceed with the case.
Mr. Adeola Adedipe, the counsel for the state, stated, “My lord we have filed our counter affidavit and one of our witnesses is here before the court all the way from Lagos State.” This indicates that the state is prepared to present its case but faces challenges in the process.
In response, Mr. Offiong Offiong, the attorney for Ganduje and his wife, expressed that they had not received the necessary documents to move forward. He said, “My lord, we are not ready. We are asking for another date to move the application.”
This sentiment was echoed by other counsel representing different defendants, highlighting issues of service and readiness for the proceedings. For instance, Mr. Taye Falola mentioned that he was yet to receive the applications and counter affidavits, while Mr. Nureini Jimoh stated, “We are ready to proceed and move the application.”
Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu presided over the hearing and emphasized the importance of proper service of documents in court proceedings. She ultimately overruled the plaintiff’s application regarding readiness to proceed and set the date for the next hearing.
