Ganduje Misappropriation Trial Hearing Set for April 15

Kano Court Adjourns Ganduje Trial to April 15 Amid Flood of Legal Motions

A Kano State High Court has adjourned the high-profile trial of former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and seven co-accused persons until April 15, 2025. The adjournment was granted to allow for the hearing of numerous pending preliminary objections and applications filed by both the prosecution and the defense.

The case involves Ganduje, his wife Hafsat Umar, and six other defendants—including corporate entities—facing an 11-count indictment. The charges, brought by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, allege conspiracy, bribery, and the misappropriation and diversion of public funds amounting to billions of naira.

When the matter was called on Monday, both the state prosecution and defense counsels declared their readiness to proceed. However, they each informed the court of multiple pending motions that must first be resolved.

Prosecution counsel Victor Oni presented a motion dated November 24, 2025, seeking the court’s permission to file additional proof of evidence against the defendants. On the defense side, various counsels revealed a series of applications. These include a motion for a stay of proceedings filed by Ganduje’s legal team, an affidavit notifying the court of a similar stay application already lodged at the Court of Appeal, a notice of preliminary objection, and an application for an extension of time to file legal arguments.

The multiplicity of applications, spanning different dates from May 2025 to February 2026, underscores the complex and contentious nature of the proceedings. The trial judge, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, consequently fixed April 15 as the date for a comprehensive hearing to address all these preliminary issues before the main trial can continue.

The adjournment prolongs a case that has drawn significant public and media attention since its inception, highlighting the intricate legal maneuvers often characteristic of major corruption trials in Nigeria. The outcome of the pending applications, particularly those seeking to halt the proceedings, will be critical in determining the future trajectory of the nearly three-year-old case against the former governor.