A Kano State High Court has postponed the trial of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and seven others until October 14, 2025. The adjournment came during Wednesday's proceedings on pending applications in the case.
Ganduje faces eleven counts alongside his wife, Hafsat Umar. The charges include bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation and diversion of public funds totalling billions of naira.
Co-defendants in the matter are Abubakar Bawuro, Abdullahi Umar, and Jibrilla Muhammad. Three companies also stand accused: Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd and Lasage General Enterprises Ltd.
Prosecution counsel Victor Oni told the court that his office was prepared to proceed with the case. He requested permission to drop an earlier motion filed on March 31, 2026.
In its place, he wanted to file a fresh motion dated May 15, 2026. According to him, this new motion responds to the sixth defendant's preliminary objection and application for stay of proceedings.
Defence lawyers for Ganduje, his wife and son — led by Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo — raised no objections to the prosecution's request. Counsel representing the third, fifth, seventh and eighth defendants also signalled their readiness to continue.
But Abubakar Ahmad, representing the sixth defendant, had different plans. He'd already filed a preliminary objection, counter affidavit and written address, and wanted a hearing date.
Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu granted the prosecution's request and struck out the March 31 motion. She then scheduled October 14 for hearing the sixth defendant's preliminary objection.
