The trial of former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and seven others over alleged bribery and misappropriation of public funds suffered a setback on Wednesday as a Kano State High Court adjourned proceedings until October 14, 2026.
Ganduje is facing an 11-count charge bordering on bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation, and diversion of billions of naira in public funds.
Also standing trial alongside the former governor are his wife, Hafsat Umar; Abubakar Bawuro; Abdullahi Umar; Jibrilla Muhammad; and three companies, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd., and Lasage General Enterprises Ltd.
When the matter came up for hearing, counsel to the prosecution, Victor Oni, informed the court that the state was ready to proceed with the case.
Oni, however, sought leave of the court to withdraw a motion on notice dated March 31, 2026, and substitute it with a fresh application dated May 15, 2026.
He said the new application was accompanied by a counter-affidavit and a fresh written address in response to the sixth defendant’s preliminary objection and application for a stay of proceedings.
Counsel to Ganduje, his wife and son, Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo, told the court that the defence had no objection to the prosecution’s request.
Oluwakemi-Oyewo, who represented Chief M.N. Duru (SAN), counsel to the third and seventh defendants, said the defence was ready to proceed.
Similarly, counsel to the fifth defendant, Muhammad Shehu, expressed readiness for the hearing.
Counsel to the sixth defendant, Abubakar Ahmad, informed the court that he had already filed a notice of preliminary objection, counter-affidavit, and written address and requested a date for the hearing of the application.
The eighth defendant’s counsel, Abdulrazaq Ahmed, also indicated readiness to proceed.
In her ruling, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu struck out the prosecution’s earlier motion dated March 31, 2026.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until October 14 for the hearing of the sixth defendant’s preliminary objection.
