A high court in Kano has fixed February 13, 2025, for the hearing of preliminary objections in the suit against the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje
In April, the Kano government filed an eight-count charge bordering on bribery, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds against Dr Ganduje; Hafsat, his wife; Umar Abdullahi Umar, his son; and five others.
Other defendants in the case are Abubakar Bawuro, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.
The Tide source reports that M.N. Duru, counsel to Dr Ganduje, asked the court last Wednesday to strike out an earlier application seeking facilities and a witness statement dated October 21.
“My lord, we urge the court to strike out this application. We intend to proceed with a new application dated November 18 instead.
“This motion, having not been moved, cannot be dismissed. We agree that it is not ripe for hearing, and we are requesting another date to make some corrections to the affidavit’s date”, Mr Duru said.
Responding, Adeola Adedipe, the counsel to the Kano State government, said the first, second, and fourth defendants served them with a new application on December 10, which is not yet ripe for hearing.
Mr Adedipe requested the court not to strike out Dr Ganduje’s application for withdrawal but to dismiss it.
“We have filed our counter-affidavit dated November 15, 2024.
“We also filed two additional counter-affidavits and responses dated October 18 and October 21”, he said.
Mr Duru, who is the counsel to the third and seventh defendants, said he had filed a better affidavit and a motion on notice on October 18.
Mr Sunusi Musa, counsel to the fifth defendant, sought an adjournment to enable him to make some corrections in the processes.
Mr Abubakar Ahmed, counsel to the sixth defendant, told the court that he had filed a notice of preliminary objection dated September 9 and supported by a nine-paragraph affidavit.
“We filed a written address dated September 9, a counter affidavit dated October 24, and a further and better affidavit dated November 15, 2024,” Ahmed said.
Mr Faruk Asekome, counsel to the eight defendants, said he had filed a preliminary objection dated November 10.
Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, the trial judge, adjourned the matter until February 13, 2025, for the hearing of all preliminary objections.

The Chief Whip of Opobo/Nkoro Legislative Assembly, Hon. Ayagogo Toby, has called on Nigerian leaders to support women through policy inclusion, empowerment, capacity- building, entrepreneurship skills training and other valuable investments that would continue to drive the growth and progress of women in particular and the society in general.
Addressing the women of her Ward in a thank- you visit to her constituency recently in Opobo Town, and the unveiling of her plans for them, Hon. Toby stressed that women had played vital roles in nation- building and other developmental programmes, but at the end, were relegated to the background.
The grassroots lawmaker commended women for their resilience and outstanding dedication and efforts towards ensuring moral rectitude in the society through family discipline.
“Today, I stand here as your representative in the government of this day, to honor the achievements of our women who serve as the pillars of our various families, models of resilience, development trailblazers and visionaries. Every day, their grace, courage, and knowledge inspire us,” she declared.
The Opobo- born grassroots politician, while x- raying the performance of women in the transformation of the country, said that Rivers State Governor, Dr Siminalayi Fubara’s administration has been deliberate in giving the women a voice in the decision- making process through extensive inclusion, training, and appointments into positions of trust.
According to her, the administration of President Bola Tinubu, especially his Renewed Hope Agenda, should be resolute in accommodating more women in the scheme of things in order to foster a sense of belonging, gender equality, among others.
She decried the fact that women in this generation are neglected, pointing out that they should be co-opted in all spectrum of the state. She noted, however, that the present administration in the state is currently eliminating all barriers against women through education and development policies and programmes.
“We have experienced women leading in the boardrooms, nurture families to maturity. educate our children and other youths, as well as, effectively shape policies that would lift us all.
“Their steadfast dedication to equality, fairness, and zealousness propels us all on the path of greatness. On our part as women, let us remain focused in whatever we find ourselves into, especially to be the advocate of the right of women. We must ensure that every girl child has access to quality education.

Bethel Toby

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has declared the seat of Monday Okpebholo at the upper legislative chamber vacant.
During a valedictory session in his honour on Wednesday, Sen. Akpabio declared Mr Okpebholo’s seat vacant, acting on a request by Abba Moro, the Minority Leader of the senate.
Mr Okpebholo was the senator representing Edo Central until he became the governor of Edo State. He took his oath of office in November after winning the governorship election in September.
Sen. Akpabio asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a by-election to fill the seat.
“So in line with your letter and the Constitution, the seat of Edo Central Senatorial District is hereby declared vacant,” the number three citizen declared.
Earlier, Sen. Moro premised his request on paragraph D of section 68 of the Constitution.
“This vacancy has become necessary following Senator Monday Okpebholo’s inauguration as governor of Edo State, and in accordance with the Constitution, his seat is now deemed vacant, and we invite you to declare,” the senator said.
With the demise of Ifeanyi Uba, senator representing Anambra South, and vacant seat of Okpebholo, the upper legislative chamber has 107 senators out of 109.
Meanwhile, Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Tajuddeen Abbas, has declared the seat of Dennis Idahosa, Deputy Governor of Edo State, vacant.
Rt Hon. Abbas made the declaration on Wednesday after reading a letter from Julius Ihonvbere, the majority leader.
He said the declaration is in line with section 68(1) of the 1999 constitution which states that “a member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if he becomes President, Vice-President, Governor, Deputy Governor or a Minister of the Government of the Federation or a Commissioner of the Government of a State or a Special Adviser”.
Hon. Idahosa was the lawmaker representing Ovia North-East/Ovia South-West Federal Constituency of Edo State before the governorship election.
With this declaration, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to conduct a bye-election to fill the vacant seat.