The trial of former Kano State governor Abdullahi Ganduje and seven others over alleged misappropriation suffered a setback on Wednesday as the State High Court adjourned the case until Oct. 14.
Ganduje is standing trial alongside his wife, Hafsat Umar, on an 11-count charge bordering on bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation and diversion of public funds amounting to billions of naira.
Other defendants in the suit are Abubakar Bawuro, Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd and Lasage General Enterprises Ltd.
When the case came up for hearing of all pending applications, counsel to the prosecution, Mr Victor Oni, told the court that the state was ready to proceed.
Oni told the court that the prosecution had filed a motion on notice dated May 15, 2026, and sought leave to withdraw an earlier motion dated March 31, 2026.
He urged the court to substitute the earlier application with the one dated May 15, accompanied by a counter affidavit and a fresh written address in response to the sixth defendant’s preliminary objection and application for stay of proceedings.
Counsel to Ganduje, his wife and son, Mrs Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo, told the court that the defence was ready to proceed and had no objection to the prosecution’s application.
Oluwakemi-Oyewo, who held brief for Chief M.N. Duru, SAN, counsel to the third and seventh defendants, also raised no objection to the prosecution’s request.
Similarly, counsel to the fifth defendant, Mr Muhammad Shehu, said he was ready to proceed.
Counsel to the sixth defendant, Mr Abubakar Ahmad, informed the court that he had filed a notice of preliminary objection, counter affidavit and written address, and consequently sought a date for hearing of the application.
Counsel to the eighth defendant, Mr Abdulrazaq A. Ahmed, also told the court that he was ready to proceed.
The presiding judge, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, subsequently struck out the prosecution’s motion on notice dated March 31, 2026.
She thereafter adjourned the case until Oct. 14 for hearing of the sixth defendant’s preliminary objection. (NAN)
