The scheduled hearing in the high-profile bribery and misappropriation case involving former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat Umar, and six others was on Monday stalled at the Kano State High Court following the defendants’ inability to file and serve pending applications before the court.
The Kano State Government had filed an 11-count charge against the former governor and his co-defendants, accusing them of bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds amounting to billions of naira.
Others standing trial alongside Ganduje and his wife include Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.
When the matter came up for hearing, prosecution counsel Adeola Adedipe (SAN) informed the court that the government was ready to open its case, with witnesses already present.
“My Lord, the prosecution is fully prepared to proceed. Our witnesses are in court, and we are ready to open our case. We urge the court to dismiss the respondents’ applications and allow the matter to continue,” Adedipe said.
However, defence counsel Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo, representing Ganduje, his wife, and son, told the court that they were not ready to proceed, as proper service of their newly filed documents had not yet been completed.
“My Lord, we have filed our further and better affidavit dated July 17, 2025, but service has not been properly effected. We request an adjournment to regularise this,” she explained.
Counsel to the 3rd and 7th defendants, Chief M. N. Duru (SAN), also requested more time, saying his clients had filed a motion supported by a further affidavit dated May 21, 2025.
Similarly, Sunusi Musa (SAN), representing the 5th defendant, informed the court that his team had filed an application for a stay of proceedings at the Court of Appeal, pending determination of an appeal related to the case.
“We have a pending appeal before the Court of Appeal and have sought a stay of proceedings. Until that matter is resolved, we are unable to proceed,” Musa said.
Counsel for the 6th defendant, Abubakar Ahmad, told the court that they had filed a notice of preliminary objection and were not ready to move forward, while Abdulrazaq A. Ahmed, counsel for the 8th defendant, noted that his team assumed the case was only slated for mention.
In a firm response, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu expressed displeasure at the repeated delays and ordered all parties to ensure full compliance with filing and service procedures before the next sitting.
“All parties are hereby directed to file and serve their pending motions before the next date. The court expects full compliance,” the judge ruled.
Justice Adamu-Aliyu subsequently adjourned the matter to November 26, 2025, for hearing on all pending applications.
The case against Dr. Ganduje and his co-defendants has drawn widespread public attention, ranking among Nigeria’s most prominent corruption trials involving a former state governor in recent years.
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