The Kano High Court has adjourned until April 15, hearing in all pending preliminary objections in the ongoing case of alleged bribery and misappropriation filed against APC chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and seven others.

The Kano government instituted an eight-count charge bordering on bribery allegations, misappropriation, and division of public funds, which ran into billions of naira against Mr Ganduje, alongside his wife, Hafsat Umar. Others are Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.

When the case came up for hearing of all pending applications on Thursday, counsel to the state, Adeola Adedipe, told the court that he was ready to proceed.

Mr Adedipe filed a motion on notice on February 5, seeking an extension of time to enable them to regularise their preliminary objection filed by the first, second and fourth respondents.

Counsel to Mr Ganduje, his wife and Umar, Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo, told the court that she was ready to proceed.

Counsel to the third and seventh defendant, Adekunle Taiye-Falola, informed the court that he was not ready to move his preliminary objection.

“My lord, we filed our application for an extension of time dated December 12, 2024, to reply to our further and better affidavit on points of law. We need to regularize our processes,” he said.

Counsel to the fifth defendant, Sunusi Musa, also filed a motion on notice for extension of time, filed Jan.7, supported by 10-paragraph affidavits and written address.

He urged the court to grant the application.

Counsel to the sixth respondent, Abubakar Ahmed, told the court that he filed a notice of preliminary objection dated September 9, 2024, supported by a nine-paragraph affidavit and was ready to proceed.

Also, counsel to the eighth defendant, Ibrahim Aliyu-Nasarawa, told the court he was not ready to move his application, adding that he intended to file and reply on points of law.

The presiding judge, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, granted all the applications for an extension of time.

Mr Adamu-Aliyu adjourned the matter until April 15, 2025, to hear all pending preliminary objections.

(NAN)