By Seyi Babalola
A State High Court 7, sitting on Miller Road, has given an order for substituted service on Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in connection with the alleged sale of government assets worth billions of naira.
The order was issued by the sitting judge, Justice Aminu Adamu Aliyu, following extensive legal debates between advocates for both petitioners and defendants, Nuraini Jimoh SAN and Barrister Zaharadeen Kofar Mata, who represent Ganduje, his wife Hafsat Ganduje, Lamash Properties, and others.
Remember that Justice Dije Abdu Aboki, the State Chief Judge, moved the case of suspected corruption involving Ganduje and seven others.
The case was relocated from Kano High Court 4 sitting at Audu Bako, chaired by Justice Usman Malam Na’abba, to Court 7 sitting at Miller Road, presided by Justice Aminu Adamu Aliyu. Ganduje, his wife, son, and five others were accused with eight counts of suspected bribery, diversion, and theft of money totalling billions of naira.
Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lesage General Enterprises are among the other parties involved in the litigation, in addition to Ganduje and his family.
In its criminal complaint against the respondents, the Kano State Government claims to have recruited 15 witnesses to testify against them on the eight-count accusation.
However, ruling on the substituted service request by the prosecution counsel, Barrister Zaharadeen Kofar Mata, in today’s sitting, the new presiding judge, Justice Aminu Adamu Aliyu, granted the order that Ganduje, his wife, and others should be served through placement in national dailies.
The judge then adjourned the case to July 11th for the counsels to address the court on their evidence of appearances and also for a hearing in continuation.
