A Kano State High Court has dismissed an application filed by former Governor and current APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, challenging the court’s jurisdiction in an ongoing bribery and corruption case.
The Kano State Government had filed an 11-count charge against Ganduje, his wife Hafsat Umar, and several others, including Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lasage General Enterprises Ltd.
The charges include bribery, conspiracy, and misappropriation of public funds amounting to billions of naira.
Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu ruled on Tuesday that the preliminary objections raised by the defendants were incompetent and dismissed them, affirming the court’s authority to hear the case.
She declared the charges, filed on May 13, 2024, as valid and ordered the trial to proceed—even in the absence of the accused.
The judge also issued a summons to Lamash Properties Ltd (the sixth defendant) and adjourned the case to July 30 and 31, 2025, for hearing.
Previously, defense counsels had filed several preliminary objections seeking to quash the charges, including motions submitted by Lydia Oluwakemi Oyewo, M.N. Duru (SAN), Muhammad Shehu, Abubakar Ahmad, and Faruk Asekome.
However, lead prosecutor Adeola Adedipe (SAN) urged the court to dismiss the applications, arguing they lacked merit—a position upheld by the court.