The Kano State High Court has adjourned the high-profile corruption case involving former Kano State Governor, Umar Ganduje, and seven others, to February 13, 2025. Ganduje, who is currently the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), faces an eight-count charge of bribery, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds allegedly amounting to billions of naira.
Alongside Ganduje, the other defendants include his wife, Hafsat Umar, as well as Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, and three corporate entities: Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, defense counsel presented multiple motions and applications, prompting the court to consolidate the issues and adjourn the case for a unified hearing.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), M.N. Duru, representing Ganduje and two other defendants, urged the court to strike out an earlier application dated October 21. “We urge the court to strike out the application. My Lord, we intend to move our new application dated November 18,” Duru stated.
However, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, counsel for the Kano State Government, argued against the withdrawal request. He contended that the application should be dismissed, citing counter affidavits filed on October 18, October 21, and November 15, 2024.
Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu ruled on the matter, striking out Ganduje’s application and overruling the objections raised by the defendants. She emphasized that all preliminary objections would be heard on the adjourned date.
The case, involving allegations of large-scale corruption during Ganduje’s tenure as Kano State governor, has drawn significant public and political attention, with many awaiting its outcome in February 2025.