A Kano State High Court has adjourned the trial of former governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje, and seven other defendants over alleged misappropriation of public funds until April 15.
Ganduje, his wife Hafsat Umar, and son, Abdullahi Umar, are facing an 11-count charge bordering on bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds amounting to billions of naira.
The other defendants are Abubakar Bawuro, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lasage General Enterprises Ltd.
At the resumed proceedings, the prosecution told the court it was ready to proceed and drew attention to a motion dated November 24, 2025, seeking leave to file additional proof of evidence against the defendants.
However, several defence lawyers informed the court of pending applications that must be determined before the trial could continue.
Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo, counsel to the defendants, said the defence had filed a motion dated July 17, 2025, asking for a stay of proceedings.
Adekunle Taiye-Falola, who represents the third and seventh defendants, also referred the court to a motion dated May 23, 2025.
Muhammad Shehu, counsel to the fifth defendant, said an affidavit had been filed to notify the court of an application for stay of proceedings before the court of appeal.
Abubakar Ahmad, counsel to the sixth defendant, told the court he had filed a notice of preliminary objection and an application for extension of time to respond on points of law dated February 2, and asked that a hearing date be fixed.
Faruk Asekome, counsel to the eighth defendant, said he was ready to proceed.
Following submissions from both sides, Amina Adamu-Aliyu, the presiding judge, adjourned the case until April 15 for hearing of all pending applications and preliminary objections.
The matter has been repeatedly delayed by legal challenges. Earlier rulings by the Kano state high court upheld its jurisdiction to hear the case after it dismissed preliminary objections from the defence as “incompetent”.
The defendants took that decision to the court of appeal in Kano, arguing the trial court lacked jurisdiction.
In October 2025, the appellate court struck out the appeal because the record of appeal was not properly transmitted to the court.
