Court Postpones Trial of Ganduje and Others to October 14 Over Alleged Misappropriation Claims

The trial of former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and seven co‑defendants in a case alleging misappropriation was delayed on Wednesday, as the State High Court set a new hearing date of October 14.

Ganduje is on trial together with his wife, Hafsat Umar, on an 11‑count indictment that includes bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation and diversion of public funds totaling billions of naira.

The other defendants named in the suit are Abubakar Bawuro, Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd and Lasage General Enterprises Ltd.

When the court considered all pending applications, the prosecution’s counsel, Mr Victor Oni, informed the court that the state was prepared to proceed.

Oni explained that the prosecution had filed a motion on notice dated May 15, 2026, and requested permission to withdraw an earlier motion dated March 31, 2026.

He asked the court to replace the earlier application with the May 15 motion, accompanied by a counter‑affidavit and a new written address responding to the sixth defendant’s preliminary objection and application for a stay of proceedings.

Counsel for Ganduje, his wife and son, Mrs Lydia Oluwakemi‑Oyewo, told the court that the defence was ready to move forward and had no objection to the prosecution’s application.

Oluwakemi‑Oyewo, who represented Chief M.N. Duru, SAN, counsel to the third and seventh defendants, likewise raised no objection to the prosecution’s request.

Similarly, counsel for the fifth defendant, Mr Muhammad Shehu, said he was prepared to proceed.

Counsel for the sixth defendant, Mr Abubakar Ahmad, informed the court that he had filed a notice of preliminary objection, a counter‑affidavit and a written address, and had therefore requested a date for hearing the application.

Counsel for 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 down the prosecution’s motion on notice dated March 31, 2026.

She then adjourned the case until October 14 for the hearing of the sixth defendant’s preliminary objection.