A high court in Kano State High has granted a court order to serve the National Chairman of All Progressive Congress, APC, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat and five others through substituted means.
The Kano State government had dragged Ganduje (1st respondent), his wife, Hafsat (2nd respondent) and others to the court on charges bordering on alleged bribery, diversion and misappropriation of funds running into billions of naira.
Others in the matter include Abubakar Bawuro (3rd respondent), Umar Abdullahi Umar (4th respondent), Jibrilla Muhammad (5th), Safari Textiles Ltd and Lesage General Enterprises as 7th and 8th respondents respectively.
The court presided over by Justice Amina Adamu, gave the order following an application by the counsel to the State government, Zahradeen Kofar-Mata who stands in for the led prosecution counsel, Ya’u Adamu Esq.
Earlier, the 6th respondent counsel, Nureini Jimoh SAN had challenged the appearance of the led prosecution counsel, Yau Adamu Esq on the ground that there is a fiat given to a specific person and only that person can appear.
The led prosecution counsel, Ya’u Adamu, told the court that since his appearance has been challenged, a member of the team, Zahradeen Kofar-Mata, will move the application on motion exparte.
“I have my fiat but it is not here with me since I didn’t anticipate this. Since my appearance has been challenged, Bar. Zahradeen Kofar-Mata will move the application on the motion exparte. My lord, Kofar-Mata has a fiat to appear concerning financial crime.
“I urge the court to allow us to move this motion.”
Kofar-Mata, however, moved the motion exparte dated May 29, supported by 7 paragraphs seeking to serve the respondents through substituted means by publishing in two national dailies with wide circulations.
Responding, Jimoh, objected to the motion seeking to serve the respondents through substituted means.
The Judge, Justice Adamu however, overruled Jimoh and granted the order that Ganduje, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th respondents be served through substituted means on the pages of two national dailies with wide circulations.
Meanwhile, Justice Adamu adjourned the matter till July 11th, 2024 for a hearing and ordered all parties involved to present their fiat to the court.
