Alleged Fraud: Again, Kano Court Fixes April 15 to Hear Ganduje, Others’ Case

A Kano State High Court, on Tuesday, adjourned until April 15, 2026, the hearing of preliminary objections and all pending applications in the alleged misappropriation case involving former Kano State governor and ex–National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and seven others.

The adjournment came as the trial, which has suffered a series of delays, witnessed the absence of all five Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) leading the defence teams, who were represented by junior counsels.

LEADERSHIP had earlier reported that the Kano State Government instituted an 11-count charge bordering on bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation and diversion of public funds amounting to billions of naira against Ganduje and his wife, Hafsat Umar.

Other defendants include Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.

At the resumed sitting, counsel to the state government, Victor Oni, informed the court of the prosecution’s readiness to proceed, noting that a motion on notice dated November 24, 2025, seeking leave to present additional proof of evidence against the defendants, had been filed.

Counsel to Ganduje, his wife and son, Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo, equally indicated readiness and drew the court’s attention to a motion for stay of proceedings dated July 17, 2025. Other defence counsels confirmed the filing of various motions, affidavits and preliminary objections, including applications for stay of proceedings before the Court of Appeal and requests for extension of time.

However, counsel to the sixth defendant, Abubakar Ahmad, sought an adjournment, arguing that their application filed on February 2, 2026, was not ripe for hearing.

Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu subsequently adjourned the matter to April 15, 2026, for hearing of all preliminary objections and pending applications.