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Federal High Court Orders Judges to resign appointment as inquiry chair or risk take home pay

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2 years ago

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A Federal High Court sitting in Kano and presided over by Justice Simon Amobeda, has given 48 hours deadline to two Kano Judges, Justice Farouk Lawan Adamu and Justice Zuwaira Yusuf appointed by Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf to serve as Chairman of Judicial Commission of Inquiry for the Recovery of Misappropriated Public Properties and Assets, and Chairman of Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate Political Violence and Missing Persons respectively, to resign their appointments.

Justice Simon Amobeda gave the order while delivering his judgment in case instituted by former governor, Abdullahi Ganduje seeking the court to stop Governor Yusuf from probing his administration.

Justice Amobeda said failure by the judges to comply with the 48-hours deadline, the National Judicial Council (1st Defendant) shall stop forthwith, the payment of any remuneration, allowances and benefits meant for judicial officers from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation to the Judges.

He said the judges should desist from performing executive functions assigned to them by the Governor of Kano State in Court rooms meant to adjudicate disputes between persons and authorities in Kano State.

Justice Amobeda further said the action by the Governor to set up the commission of inquiries to investigate Ganduje without appealing an earlier court judgment by Justice A. Liman declaring that Ganduje can only be investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), amounts to abuse of office and undermining the sanctity of the judiciary.

According to him, “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 Commission 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 1 Defendant.

“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 5” 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 Magistrate Court and subject to review by a Judge of the High Court of Kano State.

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“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 doctrine of 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.

“That, by the combined effect of the provisions of Sections 5, 6, 84 and 271 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered) and Paragraph 21(c) of Part I of the Third Schedule thereof as well as the provision of the Preamble and Rule 3.7 of Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, issued by the 1 Defendant, the 4th and 5th Defendants, having accepted an executive appointment as Chairmen of Commissions of Inquiry, abandoned their judicial functions and turned their Court rooms to a place of performing executive function assigned to them by the Governor of Kano State, cannot simultaneously continue to hold office as Judges of the High Court of Kano State and cannot be entitled to salaries and allowances of Judicial officers, as fixed by the 2nd Defendant and being paid by the 1 Defendant.

“That, in view of the decision of this Honourable Court coram: Hon. Justice A.M. Liman in Suit No.FHC/KN/195/2023 (Between Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje v. Nigeria Police Force & Ors) delivered on 5th day of March, 2024 declaring that the Plaintiff herein can only be investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), it is an abuse of office and undermining the sanctity of the judiciary for the Governor of Kano State to set up a Commission of Inquiry which is inferior to this Court to purport to investigate the administration of the Plaintiff.

“That, the 4th and 5th Defendants, being serving judicial officers shall respectively resign from the appointment as Chairman of Judicial Commission of Inquiry for the Recovery of Misappropriated Public Properties and Assets, and Chairman of Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate Political Violence and Missing Persons respectively, and shall desist forthwith, from performing executive functions assigned to them by the Governor of Kano State in Court rooms meant to adjudicate disputes between persons and authorities in Kano State.

“That, where the 4th and 5th Defendants fail to comply with this Order within 48 hours of its service on them, the 1st Defendant shall stop forthwith, the payment of any remuneration, allowances and benefits meant for judicial officers from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation to the 4th and 5th Defendants while they are still holding office as Chairmen of Commissions of Inquiry,” Justice Amobeda stated.

The court however, disagreed with the argument of the plaintiff’s counsel that the judges cease to be judicial officers by accepting to be members of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

Meanwhile, respondents in the suit are: National Judicial Council (1st Defendant), Revenue Mobilization Allocation And Fiscal Commission (2nd), Attorney-General Kano State (3rd), Hon. Justice Farouk Lawan Adamu and Hon. Justice Zuwaira Yusuf as 4th and 5th defendants respectively.

 

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APC Kano appoints Bichi, Baffa Babba Dan Agundi to lead E-Registration drive across 44 LGAs

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13 hours ago

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January 21, 2026

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The APC in Kano State has appointed Baffa Babba Dan Agundi and Rabi’u Sulaiman Bichi as the Chairman and Co-Chairman of the E-Registration Membership Committee.

Inaugurating the 14-member committee headed by Engineer Rabiu Sulaiman Bichi, the Kano State APC Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, said other members of the committee include Abdul Adamu Fagge and Musa Ali Kachako.

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The others are Shafi’u Abdullahi Darma, Ahmad Aruwa, Sanusi Sa’idu Kiru Majidadi, Khalid Ishaq Diso, Auwalu Ubale Minjibir, Fa’iz Alfindiki, Binta Rabi’u Spikin, Umar Muhd ​​Rabiu, Muhd ​​Tudun Wada Tweeter and Aminu Umar Dawakin Kudu as the Secretary.

Alhaji Abbas explained how the committee would function and urged the members of the committee to work hard to ensure the success of the project. He said the project would cover all the wards in the 44 Local Government Areas of the state.

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Turaki-Led PDP Leadership Visits Namadi Sambo in Push to Rebuild Party

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13 hours ago

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January 21, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Tanimu Turaki, undertook a consultative visit to former Vice President Namadi Sambo at his Abuja residence on Tuesday. The move is part of broader efforts to reposition the party.

Following a closed-door meeting, Turaki informed journalists that the visit served to introduce the newly elected NWC members to Sambo and to brief him on the party’s current prospects and challenges in the wake of its recent National Convention in Ibadan.

He described the engagement as a critical step in restoring the PDP to its former stature as Africa’s largest political party and returning it to its “winning days.”

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Turaki noted that the former Vice President offered substantial advice and guidance on rebuilding the party into a formidable platform. He highlighted Sambo’s continued commitment as a particularly significant outcome of the meeting.

“The most important assurance from His Excellency is that he is, and will remain, a dedicated member of the PDP,” Turaki stated. “He has promised to become more active in party affairs and has assured us of his availability whenever his attention is required.”

“We are encouraged that the leaders instrumental in the PDP’s past successes are firmly behind us,” he added.

Expressing confidence in the party’s revival, Turaki said that with the support of its founding figures, the PDP is poised to succeed in forthcoming elections, including the FCT Area Council polls and the off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States.

When questioned about the possibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan contesting on the party’s ticket, Turaki reaffirmed the party’s decision to zone its presidential candidacy to Southern Nigeria.

He clarified that while the specific candidate is yet to be determined, the selection process will be “open, transparent, fair, and equitable.”

“Should anyone express interest in contesting, we assure Nigerians that they will be the ultimate deciders of who becomes the candidate,” Turaki said.

 

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INEC Lifts Campaign Ban for Ekiti Governorship Election, Urges Peaceful Conduct

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14 hours ago

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January 21, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the official commencement of the campaign period for the Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for June 20, 2026.

The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, declared that the ban on public campaigns will be lifted on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The campaign window will remain open until midnight on June 18, 2026.

Dr. Omoseyindemi made the announcement on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Ado Ekiti, attended by INEC officials and leaders of participating political parties. He called on all parties to engage in decorous and peaceful campaigns in the build-up to the election.

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“With the publication of the final list of candidates, the campaign period now enters a critical phase that demands maturity, restraint, and strict adherence to the law by all political actors,” he stated.

The REC emphasized that peaceful campaigns are fundamental to ensuring a credible election and the overall stability of the state. He reiterated INEC’s commitment to conducting a transparent and peaceful poll and urged parties to comply fully with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Campaigns.

This development follows the commission’s publication, barely 24 hours earlier, of the final list of governorship candidates and their running mates for the 12 parties cleared to contest the election.

It will be recalled that the Peoples Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party, whose candidates were omitted from the list, have previously indicated they are seeking legal redress to participate in the election.

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