A Kano State High Court has adjourned hearing pending preliminary objections in the alleged bribery and misappropriation case against APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, and seven others, until April 15.
NAN 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 of all pending applications, on Thursday, Counsel to the state, Mr Adeola Adedipe, SAN, told the court that he was ready to proceed.
Adedipe filed a motion on notice on February 5, seeking an extension of time to enable them to regularise their preliminary objection filed by the 1st, 2nd and 4th respondents.
Counsel to Ganduje, his wife and Umar, Mrs Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo, told the court that she was ready to proceed.
Counsel to the 3rd and 7th defendant, Mr Adekunle Taiye-Falola, informed the court that he was not ready to move his preliminary objection.
“My lord, we filed our application for an extension of time dated December 12, 2024, to reply to our further and better affidavit on points of law. We need to regularize our processes” he said
Counsel to the 5th defendant Mr Sunusi Musa, SAN, also filed a motion on notice for extension of time, filed January 7, supported by 10 paragraphs of affidavits and written address.
He urged the court to grant the application.
Counsel to the 6th respondent, Mr Abubakar Ahmed, told the court that he filed a notice of preliminary objection dated September 9, 2024, supported by a nine-paragraph affidavit and was ready to proceed.
Also, Counsel to the 8th defendant, Ibrahim Aliyu-Nasarawa, told the court he was not ready to move his application, adding that he 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.
Adamu-Aliyu adjourned the matter until April 15, 2025, for a hearing of all pending preliminary objections.
