A Kano State High Court has reserved ruling in the case of alleged bribery and misappropriation filed against All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and seven others.
The Kano State Government instituted an eight-count bordering on bribery, misappropriation and diversion of public funds running into billions of Naira against Ganduje and seven others, including his wife, Hafsat Umar.
The others are Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited,Safari Textiles Limited and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.
When the case came up for hearing of all pending applications, counsel to Ganduje, a former governor of the state and his wife, Offiong Offiong (SAN) applied for an extension of time and urged the court to grant the application.
“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,” he said.
However, counsel to the state, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), filed a reply to the notice of preliminary objection dated October 22, 2024, addressing all the respondents.
“The application is attached with a paragraph counter affidavit and a written address dated December .13, 2024 attached along with several documents as exhibits” Adedipe said.
He prayed the court to dismiss the respondents’ applications for lacking merit.
Counsel to the 3rd and 7th defendant, Adekunle Taiye-Falola, filed a motion on notice of preliminary objection dated October.18, 2024, supported by a 14- paragraph affidavit and a written address.
“In reply to the complainant’s counter affidavit, we filed our further and better affidavit dated Dec.12, 2024 and a reply on point of law. We urge the court to grant the application as prayed” Taiye-Falola said.
Counsel to the 5th defendant Sunusi Musa(SAN) also filed a motion on notice on preliminary objection dated Oct.18, 2024 which was supported by an affidavit, exhibit and a written address.
“We also filed our affidavit, reply on point of law, and urged the court to grant the application with substantial costs against the complainant,” he said.
Counsel to the 6th respondent, Ashafa Yusuf , also filed a notice of preliminary objection dated Sept.9, 2024, supported by a nine paragraph affidavit and a written address.
“My Lord, we filed a further and better affidavit dated Feb. 17, supported by an 11-paragraph affidavit. We also filed a reply on point of law and urged the court to grant the application,” he said.
Faruk Asekone, counsel to the 8th defendant, filed a notice of preliminary objection dated October. 18, 2024, supported by a five-paragraph affidavit and a written address.
“In reply to the complainant’s counter-affidavit, we filed our further and better affidavit and reply on point of law dated Feb. 13, 2025, and urge the court to grant the application,” Asdkome said.
Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu granted the application for an extension of time.
Adamu-Aliyu adjourned the matter for ruling on the notices of preliminary objection to a date that would be communicated to the parties at a later date.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
