- Safiu Kehinde
A High Court sitting in Kano State has again adjourned the trial of former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and seven others until the 3rd of February 2026 for hearing of all pending motions.
Recall that the Kano State Government had instituted an 11-count charge bordering on bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds running into billions of naira against Ganduje and his wife, Hafsat Umar.
The ex-APC National Chairman was alleged to have committed the crimes during his tenure as the state governor.
Others charged with Ganduje are, Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.
When the matter came up for hearing, Counsel to the State Government, Mr Jedidiah Akpata, told the court that he was not ready to proceed.
“My Lord, we are not ready to proceed. We seek the leave of the court to move our application for extension of time,” he said.
Akpata filed a motion for extension of time to respond to the respondents’ motion for stay of proceedings dated November 19 and filed November 20, 2025.
He also filed another motion dated November 24 and filed November 25, for extension of time to respond to the sixth respondent’s preliminary objection.
Counsel to Ganduje, wife and son, Mrs Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo, informed the court that he was ready to proceed.
“My Lord, we are ready. We are not opposing the prosecution motion for extension of time” she said
Counsel to the 3rd and 7th defendants, Chief M N Duru SAN, told the court they were also ready to proceed.
Counsel to the 5th defendant, Abdul Adamu-Fagge (SAN), informed the court that they were ready to proceed, even though they have earlier filed an application for a stay of proceedings before the Court of Appeal.
Also, Counsel to the 6th respondent, Abubakar Ahmad, and Counsel to the 8th defendant, Abdulrazaq A Ahmed, told the court they were ready to proceed
Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, granted the prosecution’s request for extension of time and adjourned the matter until February 3, 2026 for hearing of all pending motions.
The trial has reportedly suffered multiple adjournments on similar grounds.