A Kano State High Court has affirmed its jurisdiction over the case against Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), after rejecting his application to dismiss the multi-billion naira fraud charges filed by the Kano State government.
The court dismissed the application filed by Ganduje and seven other defendants, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.
The Kano State government has brought an 11-count charge against Ganduje, his wife Hafsat Umar, and six others, including Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.
The charges include bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds amounting to billions of naira.
In her ruling on Tuesday, Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu dismissed the defendants’ preliminary objections, describing them as incompetent and citing relevant legal precedents.
She confirmed that the charges filed on May 13, 2024, are competent and can be tried.
Justice Aliyu emphasised that the authority to investigate such crimes is not solely the responsibility of the police, noting that the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission also has the power to conduct investigations into criminal matters.
The judge ruled that the trial should proceed even in the absence of Ganduje and six other defendants.
She also issued a summons for the sixth defendant, Lamash Properties Limited, and adjourned the case to July 30 and 31 for further hearing.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
