The affected agencies are; the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
Justice Farouk Lawan Adamu of the Kano State High Court has barred Nigeria's anti-corruption agencies from investigating or arresting Chairman of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), Muhuyi Rimingado.
The affected agencies are; the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
SaharaReporters had on last Saturday reported that the immediate past Governor of Kano State and current Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, made subtle moves through the EFCC and the CCB to manipulate the ongoing corruption probe by the Kano State PCACC.
Correspondence from the EFCC and the CCB to the Kano State government’s PCACC obtained by SaharaReporters had revealed that the two anti-graft agencies had become interested in taking over the investigations and “assist” Ganduje get out of the ropes of the Kano State government.
The Chairman of the PCACC, Rimingado, had been removed by Ganduje and the then House of Assembly in controversial circumstances, which were not unconnected with an attempt by the PCACC under Magaji to investigate the “Gandollar” video and corruption allegations involving the wife of the former governor.
Meanwhile, the restraining order, which Justice Adamu made on Monday, followed a motion Ex-Parte application filed by Mr. H. I. Dederi Esq. (Attorney General of Kano State), Counsel for the Applicant.
The application was accompanied an affidavit facts duly sworn to by one Khalifa Auwal Hashim.
Ruling on the application, Justice Adamu also restrained the trio from meddling into the affairs of the
Commission, pending the hearing of the originating motion on notice.
The judge also ordered all parties involved in the case to maintain Status Quo Ante-bellum.
The order partly read: “Order is hereby made by way of Interim injunction restraining the Defendants/Respondents from meddling or delving into the affairs or taking any step on, related to or in connection with the functions, duties and affairs of the Plaintiffs/Applicants in this Matter pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Motion.
“Order is hereby made by way of Interim Injunction restraining the Respondents either by themselves, agents, staff privies or whosoever, howsoever, in whatsoever way manner from inviting, threatening, coaxing, cajoling, arresting or in any way or manner, interfering, meddling or interloping in the affairs of any staff or person under the services of the Plaintiffs by whatever designation or nomenclature called, pending the Hearing and Determination of the Originating Motion,” the order reads.
Justice Adamu similarly ordered for accelerating hearing of the matter by abridging time within which the defendants may file and serve their respective court processes.
Applicants in the suit include, Attorney General of Kano State, Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission and its Chairman, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado.
On the other hand, the respondents are; the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC.
The Judge, Justice Adamu however, adjourned the matter to the 25th September, 2023 for hearing of the originating motion.