Alleged Corruption: Court Orders Substituted Service On Ganduje, Wife, Others

The Kano State High Court has granted an order to serve the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his wife Hafsat, and five others through substituted means, in an alleged corruption case preferred against them by the State government.

The Kano State government has accused Ganduje, his wife, and six other respondents of alleged bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds amounting to billions of naira.

The other respondents in the case include Abubakar Bawuro (3rd respondent), Umar Abdullahi Umar (4th respondent), Jibrilla Muhammad (5th respondent), Safari Textiles Ltd (7th respondent), and Lesage General Enterprises (8th respondent)

Justice Amina Adamu issued the order following an application by Zahradeen Kofar-Mata, who represented the lead prosecution counsel, Ya’u Adamu Esq, on Wednesday.

During the proceedings, Nureini Jimoh, SAN, counsel for the 6th respondent, challenged the appearance of Ya’u Adamu on the grounds that a specific fiat had been issued to another person, and only that person could appear in court.

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Responding to the challenge, Ya’u Adamu stated, “I have my fiat but it is not here with me since I didn’t anticipate this. Since my appearance has been challenged, Barr. Zahradeen Kofar-Mata will move the application on the motion ex parte. My lord, Kofar-Mata has a fiat to appear concerning financial crime.”

Following this, Kofar-Mata moved the motion ex parte, dated May 29, supported by seven paragraphs, seeking to serve the respondents through substituted means by publishing the notice in two national dailies with wide circulations.

Jimoh objected to the motion, arguing against the method of substituted service. However, Justice Adamu overruled the objection and granted the order for substituted service.

Justice Adamu ordered that Ganduje and the other respondents be served through publication in two widely circulated national dailies. The judge also adjourned the matter until July 11, 2024, for a hearing and ordered all parties to present their fiat to the court.