Alleged Multi-million Drug Scam: Kano Ministry, ALGON institute contempt charges against ICPC, others
The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in Kano State and Ministry of Local Government, have instituted contempt charges against the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and others before a Kano High Court over an alleged N400 million drug scam.
Others include the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti Corruption Commission (PCACC), Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
SolaceBase reports that the applicants through their counsel, Shamsu Jibrin are seeking the court to restrain Kano State Public Complaints and Anti Corruption Commission, ICPC and other related agencies from inviting and investigating pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
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It could be recalled that the court had on August 27th, 2024 granted an interim injunction order restraining all the respondents from investigating, arresting, inviting or any matter tempering with the subject matter pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application.
When the case came up for hearing, on Thursday, Counsel to the applicant, Shamsu Jibrin, told the court that they are not ready to proceed because ICPC violated the court order, and have filed two applications.
“My lord, we filed form 48 on contempt proceedings against the respondents and filed an application to prohibit them from participating in the matter until they comply with the order of the Court.
“It is not lawful for the respondents to investigate one matter which the court had earlier granted an order restraining them from investigation, it is what we call foreign shopping.
“It is an abuse of court process, it is unconstitutional and a breach of fundamental rights of the applicants,” Jibrin said.
Responding, the Chairman ICPC, who doubles as the counsel, Musa Aliyu, SAN, told the court that the Commission only invited one Abdullahi Dederi, Caretaker Chairman, Karaye Local Government Kano who is not party to the case.
“Section 287 (1) of the 1999 constitution gives ICPC as an agency constitutional power to enforce the decision of the Supreme Court.
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“My lord, Dederi is not a party to this case. The supreme court has ruled that no person in this country shall manage local government council as a caretaker Chairman,” he said.
Aliyu told the court that in March 2024, Governor Abba Yusuf forwarded Dederi and 43 others’ name to the Kano State House of Assembly as caretaker Local Government Chairmen.
The ICPC boss told the court to discountenance the applicants’ application and urged the court to direct the applicants to continue with the matter.
The Judge, Justice Ibrahim Karaye, said the case file would be returned to the Chief Judge of the state to redirect the matter to another Judge.
He, however, adjourned the matter for hearing of all pending applications.
Recall that PCACC had earlier invited ALGON Chairman, Abdullahi Bashir, Permanent Secretary Ministry for Local Government, Ibrahim Kabara and Managing Director of Novomed company, Musa Kwankwaso, in connection with an alleged drug supply contract scam running into millions of naira.
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