The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his wife Hafsat, and six others are set to appear in court on Thursday on charges relating to alleged bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds amounting to billions of naira.
The case was initiated by the Kano State Government, seeking the recovery of the allegedly diverted funds.
This follows a notice of trial served on the respondents through substituted means by court order, after extensive arguments by counsels of the parties.
DAILY POST observed that on June 5, 2024, a Kano State High Court granted an order for the service of seven respondents in the criminal suit through substituted service, by publishing advertisements in two national dailies.
Reports indicate that the service was carried out on June 6, 2024, through advertisements in the Daily Trust and The Nation newspapers.
The respondents in the case include Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (1st respondent), his wife Hafsat (2nd respondent), and others facing charges related to alleged bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds.
Other respondents named in the case are Abubakar Bawuro (3rd respondent), Umar Abdullahi Umar (4th respondent), Jibrilla Muhammad (5th respondent), Lamash Properties Limited (6th respondent), Safari Textiles Ltd (7th respondent), and Lesage General Enterprises (8th respondent).
The sixth respondent was represented in court by Barrister Nuraini Jimoh, SAN.
Justice Amina Adamu presided over the court and granted the order upon application by the state government’s counsel, Zahradeen Kofar-Mata, who represented the lead prosecution counsel, Ya’u Adamu, Esq.
Justice Adamu adjourned the matter till July 11, 2024, for a hearing and instructed all parties involved to present their fiat to the court.
Alleged diversion of state funds: Tension as APC National Chair Ganduje, wife set to appear in court