Former Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje failed to show up in court Wednesday along side his wife, son and others scheduled to be arraigned on bribery and corruption charges.
Mr. Ganduje, his wife, son and five others were to appear before the Kano High Court, but their absence stalled their arraignment in Wednesday’s hearing for an eight count charges against them by the State government.
Ganduje is accused collecting bribes in US dollars, diversion and misappropriation of public funds.
At the resumed hearing before Justice Usman Mallam Na’abba, only the 6th respondent through his counsel, Nureini Jimoh, was present in court while the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th respondents were absent.
The case was adjourned till April 29, 2024, giving the prosecutors more to serve the court papers on Ganduje and his co- accused.
Meanwhile a Kano State High Court has granted an exparte order restraining Ganduje from parading himself as the All Progressives Congress National Chairman., Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, from parading himself as National Chairman as well as a member of the party, pending the determination of the substituted motion of his suspension.
The application granted by Justice Usman Malam Na’abba on Tuesday follows an exparte motion filed by Dr. Ibrahim Sa’ad on behalf of two executive members of Ganduje’S ward, Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area; the assistant secretary, Laminu Sani; and legal adviser Haladu Gwanjo (plaintiffs) who were part of the nine ward executive who suspended him two days ago.
The court directed the four parties (respondents) joined in the matter, including the APC NWC, APC Kano State Working Committee (KSWC), and Ganduje, to henceforth, maintain status quo ante belum as of 15th April 15 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit on 30th April 2024.
Nine members of the Ganduje ward had announced Monday of the former governor, until he clears his name of the charges brought against him.
Reacting to the suspension Ganduje accused the Kano State government of orchestrating the move to remove home as chairman of the APC.
“I met with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and he told me that my position as APC Chairman, which the Kano State Government was trying to remove me from, will remain unchanged.
”He reaffirmed my position as APC National Chairman”, Ganduje said in a video online.
Ganduje and wife facing charges in Kano