The Nigeria Police through the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 1, Kano has said, its invitation to a Kano Upper Sharia Court judge to appear before the Zonal Intelligence Department was precipitated on a petition on a matter that is more of a criminal case than civil in nature.

The police said with the petition which is been investigated by its operatives at zone 1, headquarters, it became pertinent to invite all the parties in the matter including the upper sharia court judge.

This is in reaction to our story on the police invitation to a Sharia court judge and disregard to court order.

A statement issued by CSP Bashir Muhammad, Police Public Relations Officer, Zone One Headquarters, Kano, on Thursday, said the police investigation is focused purely on criminal offences and not a civil matter

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The statement said it is important to note that only Federal or State High Courts have the constitutional authority to issue restraining orders against the Police in matters relating to fundamental rights, as provided under Section 46 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

FULL TEXT OF THE STATEMENT

The attention of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone One Headquarters, Kano, has been drawn to a misleading report titled “Police Disregards Court Restraining Order, Invited Judge in Kano.” It is imperative to set the record straight and provide accurate information to the public. 

On 6th March 2025, Zone One Headquarters received a petition from one Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim Sharada of Sharada Quarters, Kano, alleging criminal conspiracy, cheating, and misappropriation against Alhaji Dayyabu Umar and three others involving the sum of Fifty Million Naira (N50,000,000.00).

The petitioner claimed he was deceived into paying the said sum for a fictitious property. Upon realizing the fraud, he demanded a refund but was unsuccessful, prompting his petition to the police. 

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In the course of investigations, a sum of Forty Million Naira (N40,000,000.00) was traced to Zenith Bank Account No. 1012679910, registered under the Sharia Court Department Deposit Account, while the remaining Ten Million Naira (N10,000,000.00) was traced to two other accounts.

A receipt for the total sum of Fifty Million Naira (N50,000,000.00) was issued by an entity unrelated to the court, raising serious criminal suspicions. Further findings revealed that the suspects falsely claimed to be selling a property belonging to the heirs of the late Abdulsalam Abdullahi, using the Upper Sharia Court, Kasuwa, as a cover.

The property in question had, in fact, been the subject of a consent judgment issued by the High Court of Kano on 22nd February 2024 (Suit No. K/592/2023) in favour of different parties. 

During the investigation, the Registrar of the Upper Sharia Court, Kasuwa, who was involved in the transaction, stated that he acted under the instructions of Judge Alkali Abdu Abdullahi Waiya of the Upper Sharia Court, Kasuwa, in collecting the funds from the complainant.

The Registrar further confirmed that he was unaware of any pending civil case regarding the said property before the court. Given the involvement of an official court account in a case of criminal conspiracy, cheating, and misappropriation, it became necessary to invite all relevant parties, including the Upper Sharia Court Judge, through the appropriate authority—the Kano State Sharia Court of Appeal. 

Contrary to media reports, the Police investigation is focused purely on criminal offenses and not a civil matter. Furthermore, it is important to note that only Federal or State High Courts have the constitutional authority to issue restraining orders against the Police in matters relating to fundamental rights, as provided under Section 46 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The Nigeria Police Force was not a party to the alleged restraining order being referenced in the misleading report. 

The Nigeria Police Force, Zone One Headquarters, remains committed to upholding the rule of law, justice, and due process. We urge media practitioners to verify facts and seek clarification from the Police Public Relations Department before publishing reports to avoid misleading the public.

For further inquiries, the public is encouraged to contact the Police Public Relations Officer, Zone One Headquarters, Kano. 

CSP BASHIR MUHAMMAD, ANIPR 

Public Relations Officer 

For: Assistant Inspector General of Police 

Zone One Headquarters, Kano