Court stops EFCC, ICPC, CCB from probing Kano anti-graft chair

A Kano high court has barred the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from probing Muhyi Rimingado, chairman of the Kano Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC).

Also barred were the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

The development comes days after the EFCC, ICPC and CCB sent an invitation to the PCACC and its officials to answer questions concerning the activities of the commission from 2011 to date.

The Kano state government had dragged the federal government before the court over what it described as harassment and intimidation of the PCACC by three federal agencies.

Farouk Adamu, the presiding judge, in an ex parte order, asked the federal agencies and their agents to stop questioning or investigating officials of the PCACC, according to NAN.

The court also ordered the agencies to stop meddling in the affairs of the anti-graft agency.

The order with suit N0 K/M1128/2023, further advised all the parties involved in the case to maintain status quo.

“Upon reading motion ex parte, together with accompanying affidavit duly sworn to by one Khalifa Auwal Hashim on 28th August, 2023,” the order reads.

“And after hearing Mr. H. I. Dederi Esq (Attorney General of Kano State) of Counsel for the Applicant, it is hereby ordered that all parties to maintain status quo ante-bellum.

“Order is hereby included 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.”

Speaking after the court order, Rimingado said no amount of blackmail, intimidation and smear campaign would deter the commission from performing its lawful duties.

“The recent intimidations and smear campaigns against the commission are the handiwork of people with skeletons in their cupboards,” NAN quoted Rimingado as saying.

“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.”

In 2022, Rimingado was sacked by Abdullahi Ganduje, immediate-past governor of Kano, on allegations bordering on abuse of office.

But on June 21, Abba Yusuf, current governor of Kano, approved the reinstatement of Rimingado as PCACC chair.

Rimingado has vowed to investigate a video that appears to show Ganduje, now national chair of the All Progressives Congress (APC), receiving kickbacks in dollars from a contractor in 2017.