By Suleiman Anyalewechi
In a move that confounded not a few, the Kano state Chief Judge, Justice Abdu Aboki, on Thursday, May 15, 2024, re-assigned the on-going prosecution of Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the immediate past Governor of the State, and current National Chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress APC on alleged corruption charges by the Kano state Government to another judge.
This is even as the spokesperson for the Kano State Judiciary, Baba Jibo Ibrahim, insisted that the Chief Judge has acted within the provisions of the law.
While members of the public, including working journalists and other interested observers had taken their seats at Court 4, where the trial Judge, Usman Malam Na’Abba was billed to rule on the issue of substituted service on the defendants ,a shocking announcement transferring the case to Justice Amina Adamu of court 7 was made .
However, Ibrahim said the Chief Judge is empowered by law to transfer cases at any stage ,before judgment ,adding that there is nothing unusual about the decision to assign the contentious corruption case to another judge.
Prior to the judicial drama, counsel to the 6th defendant, Nuraini Jimoh SAN ,had argued that for substituted service to make any meaning, there must be clear evidences to attest to previous but failed attempts at serving the defendant .
He noted that making a substituted service on a company, would amount to a flagrant disregard for the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria, insisting that the defendant cannot be served by substitution ,in the absence of formal charges and hearing notices before the Court.
The Source reports that the Kano State Government which has lined up about 15 witnesses had, early April, filed corruption charges against Ganduje, some family members and corporate bodies.
The matter last came up on April 29, during which ruling on the issue of substituted service was adjourned to Thursday May 15 2024.
