By Hassanat Adebowale
The Kano State High Court has postponed the hearing of all pending preliminary objections in the case of alleged bribery and misappropriation against the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, and seven others to April 15.
The state government has charged Ganduje and the other defendants, including his wife Hafsat Umar, with an eight-count indictment involving bribery, misappropriation, and the division of public funds amounting to billions of Naira. The other defendants are Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.
During the court session on Thursday, Counsel for the state, Mr. Adeola Adedipe, SAN, indicated his readiness to proceed with the hearing of all pending applications. Adedipe filed a motion on notice on Feb. 5, seeking an extension of time to regularize the preliminary objection filed by the 1st, 2nd, and 4th respondents.
Counsel for Ganduje, his wife, and Umar, Mrs. Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo, also expressed her readiness to proceed. However, Counsel for the 3rd and 7th defendants, Mr. Adekunle Taiye-Falola, informed the court that he was not prepared to move his preliminary objection. Taiye-Falola explained, “My lord, we filed our application for an extension of time dated Dec. 12, 2024, to reply to our further and better affidavit on points of law. We need to regularize our processes.”
Counsel for the 5th defendant, Mr. Sunusi Musa, SAN, also filed a motion on notice for an extension of time on Jan. 7, supported by a 10-paragraph affidavit and a written address. He urged the court to grant the application.
Additionally, Counsel for the 6th respondent, Mr. Abubakar Ahmed, told the court that he had filed a notice of preliminary objection on Sept. 9, 2024, supported by a nine-paragraph affidavit, and was ready to proceed. Counsel for the 8th defendant, Ibrahim Aliyu-Nasarawa, stated that he was not ready to move his application and intended to file and reply on points of law.
The presiding judge, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, granted all the applications for an extension of time and adjourned the matter until April 15, 2025, for the hearing of all pending preliminary objections.
Public officials accused of corruption are prosecuted under the Criminal Code Act, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act (ICPC Act), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act. If found guilty, they could face penalties such as imprisonment, asset forfeiture, and fines.
The Nigerian Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 ensure that defendants get due process and a fair hearing. However, corruption cases involving political figures often experience delays due to legal technicalities, preliminary objections, and adjournments, which can slow down justice delivery.
The outcome of this trial could have significant legal and political consequences, especially since Ganduje is the APC Chairman. As the case progresses, observers will be closely watching how the judicial system handles the balance between political interests and legal accountability.
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