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From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
The National Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, yesterday personally appeared before a Kano High Court in defence of the right of his commission to investigate the 44 Kano State Caretaker Chairmen over alleged act of corruption.
The 44 caretaker chairmen and the Stste Commissioner of Local Government had previously obtained an interim order restraining the ICPC from investigating, harassing or invitating the appointed caretaker chairmen to account for their roles over the alleged case.
Speaaking’ to reporters, the ICPC boss stated that he was primarily in Kano and in court to honour his earlier promise of leading his men from the front to serve as a morale booster in the fight against corruption, considering the importance of the case at hand.
“These people (caretaker chairmen) are challenging our jurisdiction in investigating them, and went ahead to secure an order restricting us from further investigations, and also went ahead to file again for contempt of court.
“To us, the apex court had already ruled that there shall be nothing like caretaker chairmen across all local government areas in the country, except through democratically elected processes.
“As far as we are concerned, these people are imposters, and do not have the legal right to sue the commission. I am here as a lawyer and the Chairman of the ICPC to ensure the apex court order is enforced to the latter.
“We must not allow people to use the court to hide from their crimes”, he declared.
About a month ago, a scandal broke out in the state involving the nephew of the leader of the NNPP over an alleged drug supply to primary health centres in the 44 local government areas in the state.
The counsel to the applicants, particularly the 44 local government caretaker chairmen, Shamsudeen Ubale Jibrin provided a background to the present litigation.
He noted that the suit is for the enforcement of the fundamental rights of all the applicants against a total of seven respondents, which included the ICPC.
He said that they were in court to seek the interpretation of the court on whether it is lawful or not for several agencies to investigate one matter at the same time
He stressed that the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti graft agency had flagged off investigations regarding the award of the same contract by the applicants.
He alleged that both agencies had violated the interim restraining order as they were duly served with the orders.
“We are here today to let the court know that the ICPC is disobeying the earlier injunction restraining it from further investigation, harassment or invitation as it concerns the matter., he stated. End
