Ganduje
By Publisher
The Kano State High Court on Thursday refused to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; wife, Dr Hafsat Umar Ganduje, and six others.
The accused are facing criminal charges, bordering on alleged bribery, diversion and misappropriation of funds running into billions of naira.
They were not in court to defend themselves.
However, the presiding judge, Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu refused to grant the prosecution’s application for bench warrant against Ganduje, and the other defendants, citing the fragile atmosphere in Kano.
She noted that granting warrant of arrest on the defendants at this material time could overheat the relative peace in the state.
Nevertheless, she ruled that their trial will proceed in absentia on October 23 and 24, 2024, if they still fail to appear in court.
The court will also determine preliminary objections on the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter against the defendants on the same day.
The Kano State anti-corruption commission had instituted the 10-count charge against the former governor and seven others.
In her ruling, Justice Aliyu granted the prosecution’s request to set the matter for hearing, having granted service of charge by substituted means, following the court bailiff’s failure to serve the defendants several times.
The judge also dismissed a motion on notice of appeal and stay of execution filed by the six defendants for lack of evidence, saying the court did not have any record before it to prove the genuity of the notice.
The respondents in the matter comprise Ganduje (1st respondent), his wife, Hafsat (2nd respondent).
Others in the matter include Abubakar Bawuro (3rd respondent), Umar Abdullahi Umar (4th respondent), Jibrilla Muhammad (5th), Lamash Properties Limited (6th), Safari Textiles Ltd and Lesage General Enterprises as 7th and 8th respondents.
