The trial of former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and seven co-defendants over alleged financial misconduct was stalled on Wednesday after a State High Court postponed proceedings until October 14.
Ganduje is being prosecuted alongside his wife, Hafsat Umar, on an 11-count charge involving allegations of bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation, and the diversion of public funds running into billions of naira.
Also listed as defendants in the case are Abubakar Bawuro, Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lasage General Enterprises Ltd.
When the case came up for hearing of all pending applications, counsel to the prosecution, Mr Victor Oni, told the court that the state was ready to proceed.
Oni told the court that the prosecution had filed a motion on notice dated May 15, 2026, and sought leave to withdraw an earlier motion dated March 31, 2026.
He urged the court to substitute the earlier application with the one dated May 15, accompanied by a counter affidavit and a fresh written address in response to the sixth defendant’s preliminary objection and application for stay of proceedings.
Counsel to Ganduje, his wife and son, Mrs Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo, told the court that the defence was ready to proceed and had no objection to the prosecution’s application.
Oluwakemi-Oyewo, who held brief for Chief M.N. Duru, SAN, counsel to the third and seventh defendants, also raised no objection to the prosecution’s request.
Similarly, counsel to the fifth defendant, Mr Muhammad Shehu, said he was ready to proceed.
Counsel to the sixth defendant, Mr Abubakar Ahmad, informed the court that he had filed a notice of preliminary objection, counter affidavit and written address, and consequently sought a date for hearing of the application.
Counsel to the eighth defendant, Mr Abdulrazaq A. Ahmed, also told the court that he was ready to proceed.
The presiding judge, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, subsequently struck out the prosecution’s motion on notice dated March 31, 2026.
She, thereafter, adjourned the case until October 14, for hearing of the sixth defendant’s preliminary objection.
