Metro

Court Fixes Date To Hear Alleged Misappropriation Case Against Ganduje

Published

11 months ago

October 23, 2024

A Kano State High Court has scheduled Nov. 20 for the hearing of all pending applications in the ongoing case of alleged bribery and misappropriation of public funds against the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and seven others.

Ganduje, his wife Hafsat Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, and three corporate entities—Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited—are facing an eight-count charge filed by the state government.

The charges involve alleged bribery, misappropriation, and the diversion of public funds amounting to billions of naira.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, the court was scheduled to hear a preliminary objection from the sixth defendant.

Counsel for the plaintiff, Mr Adeola Adedipe, SAN, informed the court of their readiness to proceed, noting that a witness had travelled from Lagos to attend the hearing.

However, counsel for the first, second, and fourth defendants, Mr Offiong Offiong, SAN, stated that they had not been served the necessary documents, including the plaintiff’s counter affidavit and the preliminary objection.

He requested an adjournment to allow time to review the filings.

Similarly, counsel for the third and seventh defendants, Mr. Taye Falola, noted they had also not been served the documents.

He confirmed the filing of a preliminary objection on Oct. 10 and requested a new hearing date.

The sixth defendant’s counsel, Mr. Nureini Jimoh, SAN, expressed readiness to proceed with their application, while the fifth and eighth defendants’ lawyers, Abdul Adamu SAN and Mr. Faruk Asekome, echoed the same concerns about not receiving the plaintiff’s filings.

Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu emphasised the importance of proper service of documents, overruling the plaintiff’s request to proceed immediately.

The judge subsequently adjourned the case until Nov. 20 for the hearing of all pending applications.

The case is attracting significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the defendants, particularly Ganduje, who was is the APC’s National Chairman.

Metro

BREAKING: Bodies Of 8 Missing Policemen Recovered In Benue

Published

6 hours ago

September 22, 2025

Editor

Lifeless bodies of the eight policemen who were declared missing after a deadly attack on security operatives at Agu Centre, on the border of Katsina-Ala and Ukum LGAs of Benue State, have been recovered.

Dr Justin Shaku, Chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA disclosed this to reporters in Makurdi on Monday.

According to him, “this brings the number of officers killed to 11 (10 policemen and one BSCPG)”.

The unfortunate incident occurred on Friday, when a team of security operatives came under the attack of armed invaders.

Three personnel were immediately confirmed dead while eight others were declared missing.

Metro

Police Arrest Three Kidnappers Over ₦6.9m Ransom, Victim’s Murder

Published

6 hours ago

September 22, 2025

Editor

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested three suspected kidnappers who allegedly killed one of their victims after collecting N6.9 million ransom.

The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed this in a statement issued on Monday.

Iringe-Koko identified the suspects as Hassan Mohammed (20) of Wandigah Town, Mandagali, Borno State; Bello Abubakar (25) of Roundabout Maura, Sokoto State; and Yusuf Ahmed (23) of Hazari LGA, Bauchi State.

She said the arrests followed an investigation into the abduction of Humphrey Wagbara of Igwuruta-Atali.

According to the PPRO, the suspects also kidnapped one Mercy Chinyere on September 12, 2025, at the same location, where they also collected a ransom of N3,500,000 before releasing her.

The statement read, “On 26th August, 2025, the Rivers State Police Command received a distressing report, suggesting the kidnapping of one Humphrey Wagbara, m of Igwuruta-Atali.

“Operatives of the Command attached to the Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU), Emohua Annexe, acting on this information and in a daring and coordinated operation on 19th September, 2025, at about 0200hrs arrested three suspects at different locations in Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre Local Government Areas of the State in connection with the kidnapping of the victim.”

Iringe-Koko said during interrogation, the suspects voluntarily confessed to their involvement in multiple kidnappings in the State.

Among their past kidnappings are those of Onwuli Jude and Nwabueze Nchekwube on September 24, 2025, at School Road, Igwuruta-Atali, where they collected a ransom of N6,900,000 before killing the victim.

“Exhibits recovered from the suspects include one G-3 rifle with Breech Number 10398, one magazine, one Itel phone belonging to Humphrey Wagbara, a kidnapped victim, three short daggers, one jack knife and one stainless short knife,” Rivers police imagemaker said.

Iringe-Koko added that the suspects and exhibits remain in police custody while detectives track other fleeing members of the syndicate and search for additional weapons.

The Command said it arrested a 48-year-old man, Emmanuel George, for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old girl (name withheld) in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

According to Iringe-Koko, George committed the offence on September 6, 2025, after luring the minor while she was sent on an errand by her aunt.