Ganduje, Family members Absent as irregularities stall corruption trial

The inability of the Kano State government to serve criminal charges on the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, his wife, son and five others stalled their arraignment before a Kano High Court, on Wednesday.

Daily Trust reports that Ganduje, wife, son and six others were due to be arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on bribery, diversion and misappropriation of funds, among others.

Aside from Ganduje and family members, other parties in the suit are Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd and Lesage General Enterprises.

Kano State Government in the criminal suit filed against the respondents said it has assembled 15 witnesses to testify against them.

At the resumed hearing before Justice Usman Mallam Na’abba, only the 6th respondent through his counsel, Nureini Jimoh, was present in court while the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th respondents were absent.

Counsel to the Kano State government, Barka. Y. A. Adamu, told the court that they could not serve the respondents personally.

Adamu, however, attempted to move an ex parte motion to serve the respondents through substituted means but Counsel to the 6th respondent, Bar. Nureini Jimoh, objected.

Jimoh asked the prosecution to “do their homework”, noting that there is no provision of service on criminal charges by ex parte motion.

He therefore vowed to appeal such move at the Court of Appeal.

The matter was adjourned till 29th April, 2024.

Ganduje has described the trial as a witch-hunt, an allegation Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf kicked against.