Lack of service of court process to former Kano state Governor in North West Nigeria Abdullahi Ganduje by the Kano State government has stalled his arraignment 9to answer criminal charges leveled against him.
The National Chairman of Nigeria’s ruling Party the All Progressives Congress APC was expected to be arraigned in Kano High Court on eight count charges bothering on allegations of bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds, including the purported acceptance of $413,000 and N1.38bn in bribes.
Other accused persons, as listed in the writ of summon, include Wife of the former Governor Hafsat Ganduje, his son Umar Abdullahi, Abubakar Bawuro, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lesage General Enterprises Limited.
Absent in the court
When the matter came up Wednesday, before Justice Usman Malam Na’abba, only the 6th respondent through his counsel, Nureini Jimoh SAN was present in court while the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th respondents were conspicuously absent in the court.
The Prosecuting Counsel Ya’u Adamu sort the court to allow the respondents be served through substituted means.
He argued that, they have the legal backing to serve the respondents through substituted exparte according to their submission.
Efforts to serve
The counsel told the court that, they made efforts to serve the respondents notice on motion but could not reach them.
However, the counsel to the sixth respondent was served the notice and not his client. Hence, they seek to serve them by substitute means.
The counsel to the sixth respondent, (Lamash Properties), Nuraini Jimoh argued that, the law insists that in a criminal case, the respondent involved must be served personally.
He further said that even his client has not been served personally, thereby arguing that all the respondents need to be served personally as the case is not a civil case but a criminal case.
After listening to their arguments Justice Na’abba adjourned the case to the 29th of April for continuation.
Recalled that, the Kano state government had sued the immediate past Governor of the state, Abdullahi his wife, son and five others before the state High Court on cases bordering corruption.
Lateefah Ibrahim
