By Abiola Olawale
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, alongside his wife Hafsat, and six others are expected to appear in court on Thursday over their arraignment on charges relating to alleged bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds amounting to billions of naira.
The Ganduje family are expected to appear before okthe court after receiving a notice of trial.
The New Diplomat reports that a Kano State High Court had granted an order allowing the Kano State government to serve Ganduje and other defendants through substituted means.
The hearing is expected to commence at 10 am at the Kano State High Court on Thursday.
The respondents in the case include Abdullahi Ganduje (1st respondent), his wife Hafsat (2nd respondent), Abubakar Bawuro (3rd respondent), Umar Abdullahi Umar (4th respondent), Jibrilla Muhammad (5th respondent), Safari Textiles Ltd (7th respondent), and Lesage General Enterprises (8th respondent).
It would be recalled that the Kano State government had initiated a formal summons against Ganduje, a two-term governor of Kano State, his wife, son, and five others at a Kano State High Court last Tuesday over allegations of financial impropriety while in office.
The former Governor was accused of collecting a $400,000 kickback from a contractor. The government also accused Ganduje of criminal conspiracy, misappropriation, diversion of public funds, and bribery, to the tune of N1.3 billion.
The suit, dated April 3, and filed by the counsel to the state government, Muhuyi Magaji, said the offence contravened Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Commission Commission Law 2008.
