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Ganduje’s Arraignment Again Halted, AndThe Court Has Scheduled A Decision On May 16
A Kano High Court has fixed May 16th, 2024 to rule on means of service in the case of an alleged corruption case involving the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and seven others.
The court, presided over by Justice Usman Malam Na’abba reserved the date after a heated argument between the parties involved.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, the Prosecution counsel, Adeola Adedipe SAN said a criminal charge can be effected by substituted means.
“Section 378 sub section 5 of the Kano State ACJL provides that the application for leave may be brought before the Court on the effect of substituted service.
“Service on the defendant may be through his legal practitioner, surety and adult in his house.”
However, in his own submission, counsel to the sixth respondent, Nureini Jimoh SAN objected that attempt by the prosecution to serve the defendant through substituted means cannot hold water as such should be discontenance.
He argued the process of inviting the suspects to Court has not been followed.
“There is no way they have been invited. You cannot come and pour your problem on the Court.
“The court cannot rely on section 378 in bringing the suspects to Court. I represent Lamash Properties limited, I am not a natural person where I can be served through substituted means. I am a company.”
He prayed to the court to serve him in accordance with the law as any application by exparte should be rejected because it is contrary to law.
He urged the Court to decline substituted service.
In his own counter reaction, the prosecution counsel said the argument of the defense counsel is premature and preemptive.
The Court however, fixed May 16th for ruling on means of service.
Recall that the much anticipated arraignment of Ganduje and seven other could not continue due to inability to serve criminal charges on them.
Ganduje was expected to be arraigned alongside his wife, Hafsat Ganduje, his son, Umar Abdullahi Umar and five others on eight count charges bordering on a $413,000 bribery allegation, diversion and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N1.38bn, among others.