The Federal High Court sitting in Katsina has fixed November 4, 2026, for the hearing of a case involving Dr Bashir Kurfi and the Katsina State Government over allegations that the government sponsored repentant bandits for the Hajj pilgrimage.
The court adjourned the matter following an application by Kurfi’s legal team, which complained of insufficient time to respond to documents filed by lawyers representing the state government.
Speaking to journalists shortly after Tuesday’s proceedings, counsel to Kurfi, Barrister A.D. Umar, explained that the adjournment became necessary after the government’s lawyers filed documents requiring a response from the defence.
According to him, the documents were submitted on Monday evening, barely 24 hours before the scheduled court sitting, making it difficult for the defence team to prepare its response.
Umar said the lawyers representing the state Commissioner for Internal Security and the Attorney-General had served the defence with the documents at short notice.
He explained that the development prompted his team to apply for an adjournment to enable it to respond appropriately.
The lawyer accused the government’s legal team of delaying the proceedings through the late submission of court documents.
He said the court subsequently granted the application and fixed November 4, 2026, for the hearing.
Meanwhile, the Northwest Zonal Coordinator of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Dahiru Rabe, has called on the Katsina State Government to desist from actions capable of frustrating the judicial process.
Rabe, who spoke to journalists after attending the proceedings in solidarity with Kurfi, urged the government to allow the court to determine the matter without unnecessary delays.
He stressed the importance of fairness and justice, calling on all parties involved to respect the legal process and ensure that everyone receives fair treatment.
The ASUU coordinator maintained that the union would continue to show solidarity with its member as the case progresses.
The case followed allegations made by Kurfi during an interview on Trust TV, where he accused the Katsina State Government of sponsoring repentant bandits to perform the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
The state government subsequently initiated legal proceedings against Kurfi over the allegations, which it considered false.
Tuesday’s court proceedings attracted members of ASUU from Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University, Katsina, led by the branch chairman, Dr Dikko Muhammad.
Other members of the union from different universities across the country also attended the proceedings to demonstrate solidarity with Kurfi.
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