A Kano State High Court on Wednesday granted an order to serve the National Chairman, All Progressive Congress, APC, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, wife, Hafsat and five others through substituted means.
The Kano State government had dragged Mr Ganduje (1st respondent), his wife, Hafsat (2nd respondent) and others to the court on charges bordering on bribery, diversion and misappropriation of funds running into billions of naira.
Others charged alongside the former governor 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 stood in for the lead prosecution counsel, Ya’u Adamu.
Earlier, the 6th respondent’s counsel, Nureini Jimoh, SAN had challenged the appearance of the lead prosecution counsel, Yau Adamu on the ground that there is a fiat given to a specific person and only that person can appear.
The lead prosecution counsel, Ya’u Adamu, however told the court that since his appearance have 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 in any matter concerning financial crime.
“I urge the court to allow us move this motion.”
Mr Kofar-Mata, however, moved the motion exparte dated May 29, supported by 7 paragraph seeking to serve the respondents through substituted means by publishing in two national dailies with wide circulations.
Responding, Mr Jimoh objected the motion exparte, seeking to serve the respondents through substituted means.
The judge, however, overruled Mr Jimoh and granted the order that Mr Ganduje, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th respondents be served through substituted means on the pages of two national dailies with wide circulations.
The court adjourned the matter till July 11th, 2024 for hearing and ordered all parties involved to present their individual fiats to the court.
