A Kano High Court on Wednesday shifted the trial of former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, his wife Hafsat Umar, and six others to February 3, 2026, for the hearing of all pending applications.
The defendants are standing trial on an 11-count charge filed by the Kano State Government, which borders on bribery, conspiracy, diversion, and alleged misappropriation of public funds running into billions of naira.
The other defendants include Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, and three companies, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.
At the resumed sitting, counsel to the Kano State Government, Jedidiah Akpata, informed the court that the prosecution was not prepared to proceed.
“My Lord, we are not ready at this time. We seek the leave of the court to move our application for an extension of time,” Akpata told the judge.
Akpata filed two separate motions: one seeking more time to respond to the respondents’ request for a stay of proceedings dated November 19, 2025, and another to reply to a preliminary objection filed by the sixth respondent on November 24, 2025.
Lead counsel to Ganduje, his wife, and son, Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo, said the defence team was fully prepared to continue but would not oppose the prosecution’s request for additional time.
“My Lord, we are ready to go on. However, we’re not opposing the prosecution’s application for extension,” she stated.
Other defence lawyers, including Chief M. N. Duru (SAN), Abdul Adamu-Fagge (SAN), Abubakar Ahmad, and Abdulrazaq A. Ahmed, also confirmed that their clients were prepared for the day’s proceedings.
Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu granted the prosecution’s request and adjourned the matter.
“In the interest of justice, the application for extension of time is hereby granted,” the judge ruled.
“The case is adjourned to February 3, 2026, for the hearing of all pending motions.”
