By Charles Maduka
A Kano State High Court has rejected an application by former Kano State Governor and current APC national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear a case of alleged bribery and public fund misappropriation filed against him.
Ganduje, his wife Hafsat Umar, and several others are facing an 11-count charge instituted by the Kano State Government. The charges include bribery, conspiracy, and the diversion of public funds running into billions of naira.
Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu ruled on Tuesday that the objections raised by the defendants were without merit, describing them as incompetent. She upheld the validity of the charges filed since May 13, 2024, and ruled that the trial will proceed.
The court also summoned Lamash Properties Limited, listed as the sixth defendant in the case, and adjourned the hearing to July 30 and 31, 2025.
Earlier, the defense team led by Mrs. Lydia Oluwakemi Oyewo, counsel to Ganduje and two other defendants, had filed a preliminary objection asking the court to quash the charges. However, the prosecution, represented by Adeola Adedipe (SAN), countered the motion, urging the court to dismiss it.
Similar objections were filed by other counsels representing the third to eighth defendants, each requesting the court to strike out the case. But the court maintained that the defendants must stand trial.
The matter will continue as scheduled in the absence of any valid legal challenge to the court’s authority.
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