18th July, 2023
By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano
A Federal High Court sitting on Tuesday stopped Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission from investigating alleged missing N100 billion from Local Government Council accounts.
The Court presided over by Justice S.A. Amobeda, also stopped Kano anti-graft commission and its agents from inviting, investigating, arresting, intimidating Local Government chairmen in the state, pending the determination of applicants’ motion on notice.
The applicants before the Court are 15 Local Government chairmen in the state from Dawakin Tofa, Ungogo, Dambatta, Kunchi, Rimin Gado, Karate, Bichi, Tsanyawa, Gwarzo, Tarauni, Dala, Turun Wada, Kano Municipal and Shanono; while the Respondents are Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission and Bar. Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado.
The Court granted interim njunction, “restraining the Respondents jointly and severally, personally or through their agents, servants, privies and/or assigns, arresting whomever and however 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 stopped the Respondents from, “taking any further steps in connection with, or relating to, or arising from the invitation by the Respondents against the Applicants, as communicated in the 1st Respondent’s letters dated 7th and 10th July, 2023 respectively, pending the determination of the Applicants’ Motion on Notice.”
The Court also granted accelerated hearing of the Aplicants’ Motion on Notice and directed the Respondents to maintain status quo in respect of the subject matter of the suit, pending the hearing and determination of the Applicants’ Motion on Notice.