A Kano State High Court has dismissed an application by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and his wife, Hafsat Umar, to halt their trial on charges of bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds amounting to billions of naira.
The ruling, delivered on May 13, 2025, by Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu, paves the way for the high-profile case to proceed, marking a significant development in the legal scrutiny of the former Kano State governor and his associates.
The Kano State government initiated the case, filing an 11-count charge against Ganduje, his wife, and six others, including Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, and three companies—Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.
The charges allege serious financial misconduct, including a $413,000 bribery scandal and the misappropriation of N1.38 billion in public funds during Ganduje’s tenure as governor.
Ganduje’s legal team, led by Lydia Oluwakemi Oyewo, filed a preliminary objection on November 18, 2024, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case. Similar motions were submitted by counsels for other defendants, arguing that the charges were legally incompetent and that the court lacked authority.
However, Justice Aliyu dismissed these objections as “incompetent” and lacking merit, citing relevant legal authorities. She affirmed that the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, alongside the police, has the legal power to investigate such matters, stating, “The charges before this court are competent.”
In a significant ruling, the judge ordered that the trial would proceed even in the absence of Ganduje and six other defendants, emphasizing the court’s commitment to due process.
Justice Aliyu also issued a summons for Lamash Properties Limited, the sixth defendant, and adjourned the case to July 30 and 31, 2025, for further hearings
The case has drawn widespread attention, with posts on X reflecting public sentiment and debates about accountability in Nigerian politics.
Some users hailed the ruling as a step toward justice, while others speculated on its political implications for Ganduje and the APC.
The Kano State government’s pursuit of the case has also sparked comments, with officials reportedly mocking Ganduje by referencing China’s harsh penalties for corruption, highlighting the gravity of the allegations.
This legal battle stems from earlier proceedings, including a June 5, 2024, court order allowing substituted service of the charges through advertisements in national newspapers after difficulties in serving the defendants directly.
The state’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, had argued that the defense’s objections were deliberate attempts to frustrate the trial, urging the court to let justice take its course.
As the trial moves forward, it is expected to intensify scrutiny on Ganduje’s leadership of the APC and his political legacy in Kano.
The outcome could have far-reaching consequences for the ruling party and Nigeria’s broader fight against corruption, with the public and political observers closely watching the proceedings.
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