Alleged Bribery: Court Fixes Date To Hear Pending Applications Against Ganduje, Seven Others

A High Court in Kano State has scheduled a hearing for November 20 regarding pending applications in the ongoing case involving allegations of bribery and misappropriation against former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, along with seven other individuals.

Naijaonpoint reports that the state government has brought forward an eight-count charge related to accusations of bribery, misappropriation, and the misallocation of public funds amounting to billions of Naira against the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and his wife, Hafsat Umar.

The other defendants include Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.

During the hearing concerning the preliminary objection raised by the sixth defendant, the state’s counsel, Mr. Adeola Adedipe, SAN, informed the court that he was unprepared to proceed.

“My lord, we have filed our counter affidavit and one of our witnesses is here before the court all the way from Lagos State,” Adedipe informed the court.

Also, counsel to Ganduje, his wife and Umar, Offiong Offiong, SAN, informed the court that he had not served the preliminary objection and the plaintiff’s counter affidavit.

“My lord, we are not ready. We are asking for another date to move the application,” Offiong.

Counsel to the 3rd and 7th defendant, Mr Taye Falola, informed the court that he was yet to be served the applications and counter affidavit.

“We filed our preliminary objection to the motion on notice dated October 10, 2024. We humbly apply for another date for hearing,” Falola noted.

Counsel to the 6th respondent, Mr Nureini Jimoh, SAN, told the court that he filed a notice of preliminary objection dated July 9.

He said: “We are ready to proceed and move the application.”

Counsel to the 5th and 8th defendants, Abdul Adamu SAN and Mr Faruk Asekome, said they have not been served with the preliminary objection as well as a counter affidavit.

“We equally filed our notice of preliminary objection dated Oct.17 and filed October 18.

“My lord, we are also asking for another date,” Adamu noted.

Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu said that the service of processes is very important and overruled the plaintiff’s application.

Adamu-Aliyu adjourned the matter until November 20 for a hearing of all pending applications.