Court reserves ruling as Ganduje challenges $413,000 bribery charges
A Kano State High Court on Tuesday reserved its ruling on preliminary objections raised in the ongoing case of alleged bribery and misappropriation of public funds filed against former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, and seven others.
The Kano State Government filed eight counts, bordering on bribery to the tune of of $413,000 and N1.38bn, against Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat, son, Umar and five others.
Other defendants named in the suit include 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 on all pending applications on Tuesday, counsel for Ganduje and his wife, Offiong Offiong (SAN), submitted an application for an extension of time and urged the court to grant the request.
“We have filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of this court, dated November 18, 2024, along with a 28-paragraph supporting affidavit and a written address,” Offiong said. “Additionally, we filed a reply on point of law dated April 4, 2025.”
In response, counsel for the state government, Mr. Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), filed a reply to the preliminary objection, dated October 22, 2024, addressing all the respondents.
“Our reply is supported by a seven-paragraph counter-affidavit and a written address dated December 13, 2024, along with several exhibits,” Adedipe told the court, urging it to dismiss the objections for lack of merit.
Representing the 3rd and 7th defendants, Mr. Adekunle Taiye-Falola filed a preliminary objection dated October 18, 2024, supported by a 14-paragraph affidavit and a written address.
“In response to the complainant’s counter-affidavit, we filed a further and better affidavit dated December 12, 2024, along with a reply on point of law. We urge the court to grant our application,” Taiye-Falola said.
Similarly, counsel for the 5th defendant, Mr. Sunusi Musa (SAN), filed a motion on notice dated October 18, 2024, supported by an affidavit, exhibit, and written address.
“We also filed a reply on point of law and urge the court to grant the application with substantial costs against the complainant,” Musa submitted.
Mr. Ashafa Yusuf, representing the 6th respondent, filed a notice of preliminary objection dated September 9, 2024, supported by a nine-paragraph affidavit and written address.
“We filed a further and better affidavit dated February 17, along with an 11-paragraph affidavit and a reply on point of law. We respectfully request the court to grant our application,” Yusuf said.
Counsel for the 8th defendant, Faruk Asekone, submitted a notice of preliminary objection dated October 18, 2024, backed by a five-paragraph affidavit and a written address.
“In response to the complainant’s counter-affidavit, we filed a further and better affidavit and a reply on point of law, dated February 13, 2025. We urge the court to grant our application,” Asekone stated.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu granted the application for an extension of time and adjourned the case.
A new date for the ruling on the preliminary objections will be communicated to all parties in due course.
