A Kano State High Court has adjourned the ongoing trial of former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, and seven other defendants accused of financial misconduct involving billions of naira.
The case, which came up for hearing yesterday, was postponed until October 14, 2026, following proceedings on several pending applications before the court.
Ganduje is standing trial alongside his wife, Hafsat Umar, and other defendants on an 11-count charge that includes allegations of bribery, conspiracy, diversion of public funds, and misappropriation of government resources.
The other defendants in the matter are Abubakar Bawuro, Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.
During the hearing, prosecution counsel Victor Oni informed the court that the state was prepared to proceed with the case.
He requested permission to withdraw a motion previously filed on March 31, 2026, and replace it with a fresh application dated May 15, 2026.
According to him, the new motion was filed in response to a preliminary objection and an application seeking a stay of proceedings submitted by the sixth defendant.
Counsel representing Ganduje, his wife, and their son, Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo, indicated that the defence had no objection to the prosecution’s request.
Legal representatives for the third, fifth, seventh, and eighth defendants also expressed readiness to continue with the proceedings.
The counsel to the sixth defendant, Abubakar Ahmad however, informed the court that he had already filed a preliminary objection, counter-affidavit, and written address challenging aspects of the case. He subsequently requested a date for the hearing of the objection.
Following submissions from both parties, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu struck out the prosecution’s earlier motion filed in March and fixed October 14, 2026, for the hearing of the sixth defendant’s preliminary objection.
The adjournment means substantive proceedings in the high-profile case will remain on hold until the court determines the issues raised in the preliminary challenge.
