Kano High Court Adjourns Ganduje’s Misappropriation Trial to October 14
The trial of former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, and seven co-defendants over alleged misappropriation of public funds has been adjourned by the Kano State High Court until October 14, 2026.
Ganduje, alongside his wife Hafsat Umar, faces an 11-count charge bordering on bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds amounting to billions of naira. Other defendants include Abubakar Bawuro, Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lasage General Enterprises Ltd.
At the resumed sitting, prosecution counsel Victor Oni informed the court that the state was ready to proceed. He sought leave to withdraw an earlier motion dated March 31, 2026, and substitute it with a fresh motion dated May 15, 2026, supported by a counter affidavit and written address. The new filing was in response to the sixth defendant’s preliminary objection and application for stay of proceedings.
Counsel to Ganduje, his wife, and son, Mrs Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo, holding brief for Chief M.N. Duru, SAN, raised no objection to the prosecution’s substitution request. Counsel for the fifth and eighth defendants also confirmed readiness to proceed.
Counsel to the sixth defendant, Mr Abubakar Ahmad, indicated he had filed a notice of preliminary objection, counter affidavit, and written address, and requested a date for hearing.
Presiding judge, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu struck out the prosecution’s earlier motion dated March 31, 2026, and adjourned the matter to October 14, 2026, for hearing of the sixth defendant’s preliminary objection.
