The alleged corruption case involving APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and seven others has been reassigned to a new judge by the Chief Judge of Kano State, Justice Dije Abdu Aboki.
Previously presided over by Justice Usman Malam Na’abba of Court 4, the case has now been transferred to Justice Amina Adamu of Court 7, Kano High Court, according to a statement by Baba Jibo Ibrahim, Public Relations Officer of the Kano State High Court.
The sudden reassignment surprised many, including journalists who had gathered at the court premises for a ruling on substituted service to the defendants.
The defense lawyer for the 6th respondent, Nuraini Jimoh (SAN), argued against substituted service without previous attempts to serve the defendants, asserting it as null and void. He contended that substituted service on a company would violate the federal constitution and argued against the lack of charges or hearing notices before the court, stating that defendants cannot be served by substituted service.
The Kano State Government has prepared 15 witnesses to testify against the respondents in an eight-count charge. The matter was previously adjourned on April 29, 2024, for a ruling on the motion of substituted service, as the court had only managed to serve the sixth defendant.
