The arraignment of the immediate-past Governor of Kano State and now-suspended National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on bribery charges, suffered setback on Wednesday over the failure of the prosecution to serve the charges on him.
The Kano State Government filed eight counts of bribery, involving $413,000 and N1.38bn, against Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat, and son, Umar with Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd and Lesage General Enterprises listed as defendants.
The case was fixed for April 17, 2024, before Justice Usman Na’aba of the state High Court.
However, only the 6th respondent, through its counsel, Nureini Jimoh (SAN), was present in court. on the day while Ganduje and the other defendants were absent.
Ya’u Adamu, Counsel for the Kano State Government, informed the court that the prosecution had difficulty serving the charges on the defendants.
Adamu, the state counsel, however, attempted to move an ex parte application seeking to serve the defendants by substituted means.
The prayer was opposed by Jimoh, who argued that there was no legal provision for service on criminal charges by ex parte motion, pledging to challenge such a move at the Court of Appeal if granted by the Judge.
Justice Na’Abba, however, adjourned the matter till April 29.
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