The Kano State government has dragged the federal government before the state High Court over what it described as harassment and intimidation of the state Anti-corruption Commission (PCACC) by three federal agencies.
This is sequel to an invitation sent to the PCACC and its officials by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and Code of Conduct Bureau, respectively, to answer questions over the commission’s administration from 2011 to date.
Recall that the Kano anti-corruption commission recently announced launching a probe of the 2017 video of former governor of the state, now All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, stacking wads of dollars into his flowing gown.
In an exparte order, the court, presided by Justice Farouk Adamu, ordered the federal agencies and their agents to stop questioning or investigating officials of the PCACC.
The court also ordered the agencies to stop meddling into the matters of the anti-graft agency.
The Order with suit no K/M1128/2023, further advised all the parties involved in the case to maintain status quo.
The case was instituted by the Attorney General of Kano State, Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission, and Muhuyi Rimingado (as first, second and third plaintiffs) against the EFCC, Code of Conduct Bureau, and ICPC) as first, second and third defendants.
The court also declared that: “By virtue of the Supreme Court decision in Nwobike vs FRN, the powers of the EFCC and other respondents to investigate alleged financial crimes is not at large and does not transcend all boundaries.
“The EFCC, ICPC and Code of Conduct Bureau cannot arbitrarily meddle or interlope into the affairs of the office of the Attorney-General or any other agency, department or parastatal under his supervision without recourse to the Hon. Attorney-General as the head of the department or chief law officer of the state.
“The EFCC or any of the respondents are not empowered by their enabling laws to investigate financial crimes allegedly committed in respect of the finances, administrative structure and properties of state governments based on faceless, vague and nebulous complaints by meddlesome interlopers.”
In the originating summons, the court ordered that: “Let the defendants within five days after service of this summons on them inclusive of the day of such service cause an appearance to be entered for them to this summons, which was issued upon the application of Attorney-General of Kano State, Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, and Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, seeking the determination of the following questions:-
“Whether in view of the Supreme Court decision in Nwobike vs FRN, the powers of the EFCC to investigate alleged financial crimes is at large and transcends all boundaries?
“Whether the scope of the powers of the EFCC are open-ended and indefinable and includes powers to investigate alleged infractions committed at state levels despite relevant penal provisions.”
The plaintiffs had prayed the court to grant an order “Directing all parties to maintain status-quo ante-bellum.”
Also, the plaintiffs sought an order restraining the federal agencies from meddling in their matter.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the state anti-graft agency has assured that nothing would deter the commission from carrying out its constitutional duties.
Mr Rimingado told journalists that no amount of blackmail and smear campaign would deter the commission from performing its lawful mandate.
He accused some corrupt public officers in the state of frustrating the commission, citing a recent development where a law firm defending a N4 billion fraud case petitioned the Inspector-General of Police seeking the withdrawal of policemen attached to the commission.
”The recent intimidations and smear campaigns against the commission are the handiwork of people with skeletons in their cupboard.
“We will not cut corners, and we will strictly adhere to the Rule of Law. We are committed to ridding the state of corrupt public officers,” he said. (Additional report from NAN)
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