Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Court Removes Two Judges Heading Ganduje’s Probe in Kano

POSTED ON July 5, 2024 •   METRO      BY Benedicta Bassey
Ex-Governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Ganduje/ Photo credit: Dailytrust

The Federal High Court, sitting in Kano,  gave a 48-hour ultimatum to two Kano judges, Justice Lawan Adamu and Justice Zuwaira Yusuf, to resign their appointments from the judicial commissions of inquiry set up by the state government.

The two judges were appointed by the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, to serve as chairmen of the two commissions of inquiry to probe the ex-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s administration.

Justice Adamu is the chairman of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry for the recovery of misappropriated public properties and assets while Justice Yusuf is the chairperson of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on political violence and missing persons.

The order was given by Justice Simon Amobeda, while delivering his judgment in the case instituted by Ganduje, praying the court to stop Yusuf from probing his administration.

Justice Amobeda maintained that if the judges failed to comply with the resignation privilege within 48 hours, the National Judicial Council (first defendant) would immediately halt payment of any remuneration, allowances, or benefits from the Federation’s Consolidated Revenue Fund to the judges.

He cautioned them to desist from performing executive functions assigned to them by the governor in courtrooms meant to adjudicate disputes between persons and authorities in the state.

The judge said the action by Yusuf to set up the commissions of inquiry to investigate Ganduje without appealing an earlier court judgment by Justice A. Liman, which declared that Ganduje could only be investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission or the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, amounted to abuse of office and undermining the sanctity of the judiciary.

He said, “That, by the combined provisions of Sections 153(1)(i) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, CFRN, 1999 (as altered), Paragraph 21(d) of Part I of the Third Schedule Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered) and sections 1, 3 and 6 of the Commission of Inquiry Law, Cap. 26, Laws of Kano State, the Governor of Kano State has no power to appoint the 4th and 5th defendants and administer another oath of office on them to serve as chairmen of commissions of inquiry constituted by the Governor of Kano State, an office meant for commissioners of Kano State government, in order to exercise executive powers assigned to them by the Governor of Kano State and stop them from performing their functions as judges of the High Court of Kano State, without recourse to the first defendant (NJC).

“That, by the combined effects of the provisions of Sections 6, 84, 153(1)(1), 271(2), 272 together with Paragraph 21(c) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered), the 4th and 5th defendants are not legally permitted, while still purporting to hold the office of Judge of High Court of Kano State, to accept appointments as chairmen of commissions of inquiry with quasi-judicial powers equivalent powers to that of a Magistrates’ Court and subject to review by a Judge of the High Court of Kano State.

“That, by the combined effect of Sections 5 and 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered), the action of the Governor of Kano State of appointing the 4th and 5th defendants as chairmen of the commissions of inquiry, pursuant to the provision of Sections 3 and 6 of the Commission of Inquiry Law, Cap. 26, Laws of Kano State, instead of appointing from amongst the Commissioners of Kano State Government, is an encroachment into and undermining the judicial arm of government, a breach of the doctrine of the separation of powers, a grave violation of the Constitution, and gross misconduct on the part of the Governor of Kano State and the 3rd Defendant, who administered the oath of office and oath of allegiance to the 4th and 5th defendants."

READ ALSO
Police Arrest Six After Abuja Market Killing
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 4, 2025 0

At least six suspects connected to the killing that led to unrest at Gosa Market on Airport Road in...

READ ALSO
Former Arsenal Star Thomas Partey Charged with Multiple Sexual Offences
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 4, 2025 0

Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been formally charged with several sexual offences by th...

READ ALSO
Liverpool Star Diogo Jota Dies Days After Wedding
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 3, 2025 0

The forward for Liverpool and the Portugal national team, Diogo Jota, has tragically died at the age...

READ ALSO
EFCC Nabs 18 Young Men in Major Internet Fraud Bust
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 3, 2025 0

In its ongoing campaign against illicit activities, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EF...

READ ALSO
Man Arrested for Brutal Killing of His Mother
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 1, 2025 0

A heartbreaking case of matricide has rocked the Dantanoma quarters in Gumel Local Government Area o...

READ ALSO
Nigerian Deported After Conviction for Smuggling Fake $100,000
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 1, 2025 0

A Nigerian, Aremu Adegboyega, has been convicted by a Circuit Court in Accra, Ghana, for attempting...

READ ALSO
NDLEA Nabs Ex-International Player in Major Drug Bust
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 29, 2025 0

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has detained former international footballer Segun...

READ ALSO
NDLEA Seizes Over 6,700 kg of Illicit Drugs in Cross River, Arrests 191 Suspects
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 28, 2025 0

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has reported the destruction of 30 hectares of cann...

OUR CHANNELS:

Ex-D’Tigers coach Brown sets goals for new job
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 9, 2025 0

The former head coach of the Nigerian men's national basketball team, D'Tigers,Mike Brown,has s...


U.S. Reduces Visa Duration for Nigerians to Three Months
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 10, 2025 0

The U.S. Department of State has changed its five-year visa policy for Nigerians applying for non-im...


JAMB Sets 2024 Cut-Off Marks for Tertiary Institutions
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 10, 2025 0

The Joint Admissions Matriculation Board announced the admission cut-off marks for universities, pol...


Federal Government Launches Exclusive Passport Office for Senior Officials
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 10, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria - The federal government on Tuesday, inaugurated a new passport front office in Abuja...


African Democratic Congress Claims Government Coercion to Weaken Opposition Coalition
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 9, 2025 0

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of ta...


FG Urges Judiciary to Strengthen Capital Market for Economic Growth
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 9, 2025 0

The Federal Government has called on the judiciary to take a proactive role in strengthening the cap...


Reinventing Nigeria’s Fiscal Framework: A Call for Unity and Responsibility
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 10, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has emphasized his government's dedication to allocating sufficient resources...


CBN Mandates Capital Restoration Plans for Banks: A Step Towards Regulatory Compliance
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

The Central Bank of Nigeria has instructed banks to provide a capital restoration plan as part of it...


Nigeria Faces Teacher Shortage: Over 31 Million Learners Rely on Just 915,913 Educators
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 9, 2025 0

According to data from the Universal Basic Education, only 915,913 teachers are available for at lea...


Tinubu Calls for Equitable Global Framework at BRICS Summit
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 10, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has advocated for a more equitable global framework regarding climate action,...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu