From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
Failure to directly serve respondents with court papers in a multi-billion corruption allegation case instituted by the Kano State government has stalled the arraignment of the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, his wife and six others.
During the court session, yesterday, counsel to the state government, Yau Adamu, said they were unable to directly serve the respondents, while praying the court to grant them leave to serve them by substituted means.
In his submission, counsel to the sixth respondents, Nuremi Jimoh, objected to the move on grounds that in criminal matters, the position of the law is that respondents must be personally served with the papers of the court.
Jimoh, who cited Item 57 of the first Schedule to back his arguments, also observed his client was not directly served with the court papers of the case.
He also countered efforts by the prosecution to move an ex parte to substitute the service of the remaining seven respondents who were not in court or represented by a lawyer.
Jimoh urged his lordship to guide the prosecution team on the position of the law and the proper things to do.
Usman Na’abba after listening to both lawyers, directed the prosecution to put the respondents on notice for the hearing of the application for substituted means of service and adjourned the case to April 29, 2024.
Daily Sun observed that Ganduje, his wife and son, Umar, were absent in court.
They were equally not represented by any lawyer, the same as the 3rd,5th, 7th and 8th respondents.
Former governor Ganduje and seven others were to be arraigned before the court for charges bordering on allegations of bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds, including the purported acceptance of $413,000 and N1.38 billion in bribes.