Kano State High Court yesterday insisted trial of Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, must continue in his absence.
NAN reports Kaduna State instituted an eight-count charge of bribery, misappropriation and division of public funds against Ganduje.
Others mentioned are Ganduje’s wife, Hafsat Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.
The court, on June 5, granted an order seeking to serve Ganduje and seven others through substituted service.
But Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu dismissed the government’s application seeking a bench warrant on the defendant. She entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of the defendants and refused to strike out the charge.
“The trial of the defendants continues even in absentia,” she held.
Justice Adamu-Aliyu adjourned the matter till October 23 and 24, for hearing of the preliminary objection and the main charge.
Earlier, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), told the court service of court processes had been effected on the defendants and affidavit of service filed June 6.
“My lord, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth respondents are not in court nor represented, only the sixth respondent. The court should enter a plea of not guilty on behalf of the defendants who refused to answer the complaint in the charge pursuant to Section 278(1)(2) of Kano State Administration of Criminal Justice Law(ACJL) 2019.”
He also urged the court to make an order pursuant to Section 388 of Kano State ACJL on a bench warrant of arrest on the defendants.
“My lord, the essence of arrest warrant is for the sanctity of the court because an order has been made for the defendants to appear before it and they refused,” he noted.