Alleged Misappropriation of Fund: Court fixes date for hearing of preliminary objections against Ganduje, wife, 6 others

By Muhammed Yakubu On Dec 11, 2024

Abdullahi Ganduje, APC, Court, Hafsat Umar, bribery, misappropriation , February — APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje

A Kano State High Court has fixed Feb.13, 2025, for hearing of all pending preliminary objections in the ongoing case of alleged bribery and misappropriation against the National Chairman All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje and seven others.

SolaceBase reports that the state government instituted an eight-count charge bordering on bribery allegations, Misappropriation and division of public funds running into billions of Niara against Ganduje, alongside his wife, Hafsat Umar.

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 on Wednesday, Counsel to Ganduje, Wife and Umar, M N Duru, SAN, holding brief for Offiong Offiong, SAN, urged the court to withdraw their application requesting facilities and witness statement dated Oct.21.

“I urge the court to strike out the application. My lord, we intend to move our new application dated Nov.18.

“We object to the application being dismissed instead of striking out. This motion, having not been moved, cannot be dismissed. I agree it is not ripe for hearing, we are asking for another date” he said

He said he filed a motion on notice dated and filed Oct.18, 2024, supported by a 14-paragraph affidavit with a written address elaborating on the grounds and purpose of the application.

“We also served our counter affidavit and filed a further and better affidavit dated and filed Oct.18 and we reply on the point of law.

“My lord, we are asking for an adjournment to enable us to make some corrections on the date of the affidavit.”

Counsel to the applicant, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, told the court that the 1st, 2nd and 4th defendants served them with a new application on Dec.10, which is not yet ripe for hearing.

Adedipe urged the court not to strike out Ganduje’s application for withdrawal but to dismiss it.

“We have filed our counter affidavit dated Nov. 15, 2024. We also filed two additional counter affidavits and responses dated Oct. 18 and Oct. 21.

“My lord, we apply to withdraw our counter application dated Oct. 18.”

Counsel to the 3rd and 7th defendant, Mr M.N Duru, SAN, informed the court that he filed a further and better affidavit and a motion on notice dated and filed Oct.18, 2024.

Counsel to the 5th defendant Mr Sunusi Musa, SAN, sought an adjournment to enable him to make some corrections in their process.

Counsel to the 6th respondent, Mr Abubakar Ahmed, told the court that he filed a notice of preliminary objection dated Sept.9, supported by a nine paragraph affidavit.

“We filed a written addresses dated Sept.9, counter affidavit Oct.24, and further and better affidavit dated Nov.15, 2024”

Counsel to the 8th defendant, Faruk Asekome, said they have filed their preliminary objection dated Nov. 10, 2024.

Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu overruled the applicant’s objection and struck out Ganduje’s application.

She then adjourned the matter until Feb.13 for a hearing of all preliminary objections.