The hearing in the alleged bribery and misappropriation case involving former Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat Umar, and six others was on Monday stalled at a Kano High Court following their inability to file pending applications before the court.
The Kano State Government has instituted an 11-count charge against the former governor and his co-defendants, bordering on bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds running into billions of naira.
Others charged alongside Ganduje and his wife include Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.
When the matter came up for hearing, prosecution counsel, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), told the court that the State Government was ready to open its case as witnesses were already in court.
“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 as service of their newly filed documents had not been effected.
“My Lord, we are not ready. 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,” Oluwakemi-Oyewo stated.
Similarly, counsel to the 3rd and 7th defendants, Chief M. N. Duru (SAN), informed the court that his clients had filed a motion supported by a further affidavit dated May 21, 2025.
“We have filed our processes and request that the matter be adjourned to enable proper hearing,” he said.
On his part, counsel to the 5th defendant, Sunusi Musa (SAN), said his team had filed an application for a stay of proceedings before the Court of Appeal.
“We have a pending appeal and have applied for a stay of proceedings before the Court of Appeal. Until that is determined, we are unable to proceed with the substantive matter,” Musa told the court.
Also, counsel to the 6th defendant, Abubakar Ahmad, revealed that they had filed a notice of preliminary objection and were therefore not ready for hearing.
Counsel to the 8th defendant, Abdulrazaq A. Ahmed, added that they believed the case was only for mention since the earlier hearing date had been shifted.
In her ruling, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu expressed displeasure over the repeated delays and directed all parties to ensure that their pending motions were duly filed and served 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 subsequently adjourned the case to November 26, 2025, for the hearing of all pending applications.
The case against Dr. Ganduje and others has drawn significant public attention, marking one of the most high-profile corruption trials involving a former state governor in recent years.
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