Politics

Kano State Replaces Judge in Ganduje’s Trial Amid Concerns

The Chief Judge of Kano State, Justice Dije Abdu Aboki on Thursday reassigned the alleged corruption case involving APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and seven others to a new judge.

The case was earlier presided by Justice Usman Malam Na’abba, of Court 4 but, now transferred and reassigned to Justice Amina Adamu, of court 7, Kano High Court.

Many people including journalists who had gathered at the court premises for a ruling on substituted service to the defendants were shocked by the sudden reassignment.

A statement by Baba Jibo Ibrahim, Public Relations Officer of the Kano State High Court, said the Chief Judge of the state has the power to direct and transfer a case at any stage before judgment.

Before the transfer, Nuraini Jimoh (SAN), defense lawyer for the 6th respondent, argued that substituted service without previous attempts to serve the defendants was a nullity.

He stated that substituted service cannot be made on a company and would violate the federal constitution.

The defence counsel further argued that there were no charges or hearing notices before the court, and therefore, defendants cannot be served by substituted service.

The Kano State Government has assembled 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 not been able to serve the defendants except for the sixth defendant.

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano