SAN FRANCISCO, November 05, (THEWILL) – A High Court in Kano has blocked the House of Assembly from continuing its investigation into alleged bribery charge made against State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje by a news website, Daily Nigerian, which accused him of demanding and receiving $5m in kickbacks from contracts awarded to contractors in the state.
The website had published multiple videos allegedly showing the governor receiving wads of dollars from an individual it did not identify. The governor says the video are fake.
In suit no. K/497/2018 instituted by Bar. Muhammad Zubair, National Coordinator of Lawyers for Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria, Justice A.T. Badamasi issued an Interim Injunction, restraining the Kano state House of Assembly Seven-man Investigative Committee from further investigation of the said bribery allegation.
Defendants in the suit are: Kano state House of Assembly, Hon. Baffa Babba Dab Agundi and other members of the seven-man Investigative Committee and Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice.
“Upon carefully run through the Ex-parte application dated 5th day of November, 2018 filed by Counsel for the plaintiff/applicant accompanied by a 23 paragraphs affidavit duly deposed to by Muhammad Zubair, a legal practitioner as well as the written address in support of Application thereto:
“And after hearing Mr. Nuraini Jimoh Esq. (with him A.N.Ahmad Esq) Counsel for the applicant. The application is hereby granted in the following manner:
“The Respondents should be served before the close of work today (5 November). Accelerated hearing is hereby ordered and the respondents are given four days to respond to this application after service.
“Parties should maintain status quo ante pending the hearing of the Motion on Notice,” the judge ruled.
The Judge, however, adjourned the matter to Monday, 12 November 2018 for hearing.
