By John Ogunsemore
Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu of the Kano State High Court on Tuesday dismissed the application filed by National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case of alleged bribery and misappropriation filed by the state government against him.
Ganduje, a former Kano governor, is facing an 11-count charge bordering on bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation and diversion of public funds amounting to billions of naira alongside his wife, Hafsat Umar, and six others.
The co-defedants are Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.
The Kano Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission filed the suit.
However, the ex-governor and the seven co-defendants filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.
In her ruling, Adamu-Aliyu dismissed the defendants’ application for lacking in merit.
Citing relevant provisions on point of law, Justice Aliyu held that charges filed by the prosecution on May 13, 2024, against the defendants are competent for trial.
The judge held that the powers to investigate criminal matters do not rest solely with the police, asserting that the anti-corruption agency was empowered to conduct investigations on criminal issues.
Justice Adamu-Aliyu ruled that the case should proceed to trial in the absence of Ganduje and six others standing trial.
The judge also issued a summon to the sixth defendant, Lamash Properties Limited, and adjourned the matter until July 30 and July 31, 2025 for hearing.