A significant legal showdown awaits the immediate past Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, along with his wife and six others, as a Kano High Court has scheduled their arraignment for April 17, 2024.

The accused individuals are set to face charges related to alleged bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds, including accusations of accepting $413,000 and N1.38 billion in bribes.

The impending arraignment follows Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s promise to investigate Ganduje’s administration, citing concerns about the integrity of governance during his tenure.

In addition to Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and his wife Hafsat Umar, the list of respondents in the criminal suit includes Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lesage General Enterprises.

The Kano State Government has assembled a formidable array of 15 witnesses to testify in the court proceedings, underscoring the gravity of the allegations leveled against the accused.

The case is slated to be heard on April 17, 2024, before Justice Usman Na’aba of the State High Court.

The State Attorney General, Haruna Isah Dederi, confirmed the development, affirming that all parties involved in the case will receive due notification.

He said: “It is very true. We have filed the case but what I cannot confirm is whether he is served or not but he will definitely be served. What he (Ganduje) doesn’t understand is that you cannot run away from the evil day, it will definitely come to you and this will even serve as a deterrence to all of us.

“He was saying that we can’t prosecute him forgetting that the offense also falls under the category of the state offenses. It’s not totally a Federal affair.”