The Federal High Court in Kano, has ordered the immediate removal of Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), following charges of alleged fraud.
Justice. Simon Amobeda’s judgement not only calls for Rimingado’s dismissal but also mandates the Nigerian Police to withdraw all personnel assigned to him.
The ruling further recommends that the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee investigate multiple allegations of Rimingado’s disregard for court orders, which could lead to additional legal consequences for the embattled anti-graft boss.
The court’s decision is rooted in two separate fundamental rights enforcement cases (FHC/KN/CS/308/2024 and FHC/KN/CS/307/2024) filed by Mustafa Sule Garo and Muhammad Sule Garo.
The applicants sought protection from arrest and investigation by the PCACC, arguing that the commission no longer had the authority to act on financial crimes due to earlier judicial rulings.
This ruling aligns with a previous judgment by a Kano State High Court, which declared that the provisions of the PCACC’s enabling law concerning financial crime investigations were inoperative.
The court’s decision was based on the premise that these provisions duplicated the roles of federal commissions, thereby exceeding the PCACC’s jurisdiction.
Adding to Rimingado’s legal troubles, a Federal High Court had previously barred the PCACC from carrying out its duties under his leadership.
This restriction followed a suspension order issued by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in April, citing Rimingado’s alleged involvement in various acts of corruption.
The charges against him include conflict of interest, failure to submit a written declaration of assets and liabilities, false declaration of assets, and abuse of office.
The CCT’s Chairman, Justice Danladi Umar, stressed that Rimingado could not perform his official duties while under investigation to prevent any potential interference with the judicial process.
The suspension was described as a preventive measure pending the outcome of the trial, which was formally initiated on November 16, 2023, with a 10-count charge filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
Mrs. Veronica Kato, Chief Press Secretary of the CCB, confirmed the suspension, stating, “The suspension of Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado is a necessary step to ensure the integrity of the trial process and uphold the rule of law.”
Justice Amobeda has tasked the Attorney General of Kano State with ensuring the full compliance of the CCT ruling, including the immediate removal of Rimingado from his position
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