A Kano high court has barred the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from investigating Muhyi Rimingado, the chairman of the Kano Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC).
Also barred are the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
This decision comes shortly after the EFCC, ICPC, and CCB had sent an invitation to the PCACC and its officials to respond to queries regarding the commission’s activities from 2011 up to the present.
In response to alleged harassment and intimidation of the PCACC by these three federal agencies, the Kano state government took the federal government to court.
The presiding judge, Farouk Adamu, granted an ex parte order that prohibits the federal agencies and their representatives from interrogating or probing PCACC officials. The court also directed the federal agencies to cease interfering in the anti-corruption agency’s operations.
The court’s order, issued under suit number K/M1128/2023, further advised all parties involved in the case to maintain the 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,” Rimingado said.
“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.