A Kano High Court has ruled that the state House of Assembly lacks the power to investigate or invite the governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, over any alleged criminal case.
Justice Ahmed Badamasi, who gave the ruling yesterday, said the power to investigate criminal charges was vested in the police, Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.
The judge, therefore, gave an order restraining the House from interview or inviting any person on the bribery allegation against Governor Ganduje as published by the Daily Nigerian newspaper.
The judge said the assembly, by constitution, only had the power to make laws and review existing laws but not the power to investigate criminal matters
The suit was filed by national coordinator of Lawyers for Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria, a pro-democracy group, Muhammad Zubairu.
Joined as defendants in the suit were Baffa Dangundi, chairman of the investigative panel of the house, and the attorney general of the state.
Nuraini Jimoh, counsel to the plaintiff, applauded the ruling, while Muhammad Waziri, the defendant’s lawyer, said he would consult his clients on their next line of action.
The state assembly had set up a seven-man committee to investigate the bribery allegation against Ganduje.
Reacting to the court ruling yesterday, chairman of the 7-man committee set up on the matter, Baffa Dangundi, said: “I will not comment on behalf of the House. The House will deliberate on the matter, take a decision and make it public.”
The court had, on November 5, ordered the House to suspend the probe while ruling on an ex parte application by Zubair but the assembly vowed not to comply with the order.
Chairman of the committee investigating the matter had said the court order did not stop the panel from continuing with the investigation.
However, on November 13, the assembly eventually succumbed to the order, saying it was a law-abiding arm of government.
It agreed to obey the court and suspend all forms of investigation on the case pending the court judgement.
In videos published by Daily Nigerian, an online publication, Ganduje was seen allegedly receiving money from contractors.
The governor has denied the allegation, saying the video was doctored.
