Kano High Court Rejects Ganduje’s Bid To Halt Multi-Billion Naira Fraud Trial.
In a significant development, a Kano State High Court has dismissed an application by Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, former Governor of Kano State and current National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to stop a high-profile fraud case against him. The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, 13 May 2025, paves the way for Ganduje and seven others to face trial over allegations of bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds amounting to billions of naira.
The court, presided over by Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu, rejected Ganduje’s challenge to the court’s jurisdiction, affirming that the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has the authority to investigate and prosecute the case. The charges, filed by the Kano State Government, include an 11-count indictment accusing Ganduje, his wife Hafsat Umar, and six others of serious financial misconduct during his tenure as governor from 2015 to 2023.
Other defendants named in the case are Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, and three companies: Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited. The allegations centre on the misappropriation of public funds, with the state government claiming the defendants engaged in illicit financial activities that cost the state billions of naira.
Justice Aliyu, in her ruling, dismissed Ganduje’s application, stating that the power to investigate financial crimes is not exclusive to the police. “The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission is also empowered to investigate criminal issues,” she said, adding that the case should proceed to trial, even in the absence of Ganduje and other defendants. The judge’s decision has been hailed as a victory for accountability and transparency in Kano State.
The case has drawn significant public attention, given Ganduje’s prominence as a leading figure in Nigerian politics. Posts on X reflected the public’s reaction, with several outlets reporting the court’s dismissal of Ganduje’s application.
The development follows months of legal wrangling, with the court previously adjourning the case to April 2025 to hear preliminary objections, only to deliver this decisive ruling earlier than anticipated.
The Kano State Government has remained steadfast in its pursuit of justice. In January 2025, the Chairman of the PCACC, Muhuyi Rimingado, declared that there would be “no going back” on Ganduje’s trial, underscoring the state’s commitment to tackling corruption. This resolve was further tested when, in August 2024, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf alleged that violent protesters looted the Kano High Court and stole case files related to Ganduje’s corruption charges, describing the incident as a “staged-managed mission” to derail the case.
Political analysts suggest the trial could have far-reaching implications for Ganduje’s leadership of the APC and the party’s standing in Kano State ahead of the 2027 general elections. The case also coincides with reports of political realignments in the state, with some New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) lawmakers reportedly engaging in talks with Ganduje about defecting to the APC, a move that could shift the balance of power in the region.
As the trial progresses, all eyes will be on Kano’s judiciary to see how this landmark case unfolds. For now, the court’s rejection of Ganduje’s application marks a critical step towards holding public officials accountable, reinforcing the message that no one is above the law.