Blow To Ganduje! Kano Court Throws Out Bid To Halt Bribery Trial

A Kano State High Court on Tuesday dismissed a motion filed by All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, which sought to challenge the court’s jurisdiction over the 11-count corruption charge leveled against him and seven others.

Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu, who presided over the case, ruled that the preliminary objections raised by Ganduje and his co-accused were “incompetent” and without merit.

In her decision, the judge reaffirmed the court’s authority to preside over the case, which includes charges of bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation, and the diversion of public funds running into billions of naira.

Justice Aliyu stated, “The charges before this court are valid. The authority to investigate criminal matters is not exclusive to the police. The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission is also legally empowered to do so.”

She further ruled that the trial would proceed regardless of the presence or absence of Ganduje and the other six defendants.

Additionally, the court summoned Lamash Properties Limited, the sixth defendant, and scheduled the next hearing for July 30 and 31.

Other defendants include Ganduje’s wife, Prof. Hafsat Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Safari Textiles Limited, Lasage General Enterprises Limited, and Lamash Properties Limited—all of whom face scrutiny over alleged involvement in the misuse of public funds.

The prosecuting counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, described the preliminary objections as “a deliberate ploy to delay justice,” urging the court to dismiss them entirely and allow the trial to continue.

Ganduje’s legal team, led by Lydia Oluwakemi Oyewo, had earlier filed the objection on November 18, 2024, arguing that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter and requesting that the charges be struck out.