A Kano State High Court has reserved ruling in the high-profile case involving the former governor of Kano State and current APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, over allegations of bribery and diversion of public funds.
The state government had brought an eight-count charge against Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat Umar Ganduje, and six others, accusing them of misappropriating billions of naira.
Others charged in the case include Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.
During Tuesday, April 15, hearing, counsel to Ganduje and his wife, Offiong Offiong, SAN, asked the court to grant an extension of time and also argued a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction.
“We also filed our preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court, dated November 18, 2024, along with a 28-paragraph affidavit and a written address in support. We also filed a reply on point of law dated April 4, 2025,” Offiong said.
READ ALSO: Anti-Corruption Coalition Petitions EFCC to Arrest Ganduje
On the state’s side, counsel Mr. Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, responded with a counter affidavit and supporting documents.
“The application is attached with seven paragraph counter affidavit and a written address dated December 13, 2024 attached along with several documents as exhibits,” Adedipe stated, urging the court to dismiss the defence’s applications.
Multiple other defence counsels presented similar objections. Mr. Adekunle Taiye-Falola, representing the 3rd and 7th defendants, said, “In reply to the complainant’s counter affidavit, we filed our further and better affidavit dated December 12, 2024 and a reply on point of law. We urge the court to grant the application as prayed.”
Mr. Sunusi Musa, SAN, counsel to the 5th defendant, requested the court to grant their application “with substantial costs against the complainant.”
Similar motions were filed by other defence counsels, including Ashafa Yusuf and Faruk Asekome, who each presented their own notices of preliminary objection supported by affidavits and legal arguments.
Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu granted the application for an extension of time and said a ruling date on the preliminary objections would be communicated later.