Ganduje in the suit is seeking a court order to stop the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) and others from arresting, investigating and inviting him during the investigation into alleged dollar bribery videos that went viral while he was in office.
A Federal High Court sitting in Kano, Kano State capital, on Tuesday scheduled September 22 to deliver judgement in a case of fundamental human rights and abuse of process suit filed by the former governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Ganduje.
Ganduje in the suit is seeking a court order to stop the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) and others from arresting, investigating and inviting him during the investigation into alleged dollar bribery videos that went viral while he was in office.
The court on July 7 restrained the state’s Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), Nigeria Police Force and six others from inviting, harassing and arresting Ganduje, his family or any of his appointees who served under his administration, pending the hearing and determination of a substantive originating motion.
Matthew Burkaa (SAN), counsel for Ganduje on Tuesday at the resumed hearing of the suit, said the fundamental rights suit was to protect the rights of the former governor and his family members and political appointees.
"The issue of his immunity ending is not a legal argument. That is a known thing. But the fact is that we are not in court to stop anybody from carrying out any investigation.
"We are just saying, do it in accordance with the four walls of the law. What they are doing is not in accordance with the four walls of the law.
"The applicant is not afraid to face the law. He is not afraid to state issues. He has nothing to hide but it is just that as a leader of his family and a leader of his group, he must insist on the rule of law and that is what he is insisting on," Burkas said.
But the counsel for the PCACC, Femi Falana (SAN), said Ganduje's immunity expired on May 29 when he left office, and that "every Nigerian, apart from those who are covered by immunity, can be arrested and investigated and prosecuted if there is evidence."
Falana said, "What happened so far cannot be said to be an abuse of any process. The process has not even begun, so you cannot say it is being abused. The immunity of the governor expired on May 29 but he wants to continue to enjoy immunity imperpetuity. That is not allowed under our law.
"You have to report yourself when you are invited and you must be prepared to defend your integrity. But you can't come to the Federal High Court and say because you have a case where you are trying to protect your reputation, therefore, you should not be arrested or your commissioners should not be arrested or your family members should not be arrested or your political lieutenants who number hundreds should not be invited, should not be investigated, even when there are serious allegations of corruption against them."