October 23, 2024

A Kano State High Court has scheduled Nov. 20 for the hearing of all pending applications in the ongoing case of alleged bribery and misappropriation of public funds against the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and seven others.

Channels Television reports that Ganduje, his wife Hafsat Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, and three corporate entities—Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited—are facing an eight-count charge filed by the state government.

The charges involve alleged bribery, misappropriation, and the diversion of public funds amounting to billions of naira.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, the court was scheduled to hear a preliminary objection from the sixth defendant.

Counsel for the plaintiff, Mr Adeola Adedipe, SAN, informed the court of their readiness to proceed, noting that a witness had travelled from Lagos to attend the hearing.

However, counsel for the first, second, and fourth defendants, Mr Offiong Offiong, SAN, stated that they had not been served the necessary documents, including the plaintiff’s counter affidavit and the preliminary objection.

He requested an adjournment to allow time to review the filings.

Similarly, counsel for the third and seventh defendants, Mr. Taye Falola, noted they had also not been served the documents.

He confirmed the filing of a preliminary objection on Oct. 10 and requested a new hearing date.

The sixth defendant’s counsel, Mr. Nureini Jimoh, SAN, expressed readiness to proceed with their application, while the fifth and eighth defendants’ lawyers, Abdul Adamu SAN and Mr. Faruk Asekome, echoed the same concerns about not receiving the plaintiff’s filings.

Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu emphasised the importance of proper service of documents, overruling the plaintiff’s request to proceed immediately.

The judge subsequently adjourned the case until Nov. 20 for the hearing of all pending applications.

The case is attracting significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the defendants, particularly Ganduje, who was is the APC’s National Chairman.