KANO, Nigeria — The Federal High Court in Kano issued an order on Tuesday, July 19, 2023, blocking the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission from investigating allegations of N100 billion missing from local government council accounts.
Justice S.A. Amobeda, presiding over the case, also restrained the Kano Anti-graft Commission and its agents from inviting, investigating, arresting, or intimidating the local government chairmen in the state until the Applicants’ Motion on Notice is decided.
The applicants who petitioned the court are 15 local government chairmen in the state, hailing from various regions, including Dawakin Tofa, Ungogo, Dambatta, Kunchi, Rimin Gado, Karate, Bichi, Tsanyawa, Gwarzo, Tarauni, Dala, Turun Wada, Kano Municipal, and Shanono.
The respondents are the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission and Bar. Muhuyi Gado.
Justice Amobeda granted an Interim Injunction, stating, “The Respondents, jointly and severally, personally or through their agents, servants, privies and/or assigns, are restrained from inviting, investigating, arresting, detaining, harassing and/or intimidating the Applicants in respect of Local Governments accounts, their personal accounts, vouchers, and cash books of Local Governments herein, pending the hearing and determination of the Applicants’ Motion on Notice.”
The court also ordered the respondents to halt any further steps connected to the invitation issued against the applicants, as communicated in the 1st Respondent’s letters dated 7th and 10th July 2023.
This halt remains in place pending the determination of the Applicants’ Motion on Notice.
The court has also granted an expedited hearing of the Applicants’ Motion on Notice.
It has directed the respondents to maintain the status quo regarding the subject matter of the suit, pending the hearing and determination of the Applicants’ Motion on Notice.
July 21 Set as Hearing Date for Former Governor Ganduje’s Fundamental Rights Case
A Federal High Court in Kano has set July 21, 2023, as the date to commence hearings into enforcing the fundamental human rights of former Governor Umar Ganduje.
The case pertains to the alleged stockpiling of dollars, an act depicted in a viral video.
Ganduje has lodged a suit against the Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission and seven other respondents regarding his purported involvement in the dollar video clips.
The former governor, summoned by the state’s anti-graft agency to respond to questions about the supposed financial scandal, had previously secured an interim ex parte order to prevent the agency, the Inspector General of Police, the State Security Service, and five other respondents from arresting him related to this issue.
The court order in the suit number FHC/KN/CS/195/2023, dated July 7, 2023, and signed by Imoh Bassey, the court’s registrar, commands a halt to any harassment, intimidation, or arrest of Ganduje, his family, and his former appointees by the anti-graft agency, police, DSS, and other respondents, until the originating motion is determined.
During the Friday, July 14, 2023, hearing, B. Hemba Esq, representing Ganduje, informed Justice A. M. Liman that they were ready to proceed with the originating motion, having served all parties involved.
However, the Kano State Anti-Corruption Agency’s counsel, Usman Umar Fari, requested a delay, stating that he only received his notice on July 11, 2023.
Fari asserted that he was within the five-day legal window to submit his counter-affidavit.
Similarly, the Department of State Services, DSS, counsel, Isiaya B. Bulus, also asked for a delay to prepare a response.
Representatives for the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner for Police in Kano State, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation, and the Civil Defence and Security Corps were noticeably absent.
Despite the readiness of K. A. Hashim, counsel to the Kano State Government and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, to proceed, all parties agreed to adjourn the case later.
