A Federal High Court in Kano, presided over by Justice A.M Liman, has issued an interim order restraining the Nigeria Police, Kano Public Complain and Anti Corruption Commission and six other defendants from harassing, arresting, inviting, or detaining the immediate past Governor of Kano State, his family members, or any appointee who served under his administration.
The order will remain in effect pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating motion.
The court’s decision came as a result of an ex parte application filed by Mr. B. Hemba, counsel to the applicant, whose identity was revealed as the immediate past Governor of Kano State.
The court also extended the order to all eight defendants in the case, prohibiting them from taking any further action against the former governor or his associates.
In the order, Justice Liman stated, “Restraining the Respondents, whether by themselves or acting through their officers, men, operatives, agents, or any persons or group of persons howsoever described, from harassing, intimidating, detaining the Applicant or his children, or any member of his family, or any appointee who served under the administration of the Applicant, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating motion.”
Furthermore, the order instructed, “An order restraining the Respondents, whether by themselves or acting through their officers, men, operatives, agents, privies, or any persons or group of persons howsoever described, from harassing, arresting, inviting, or detaining the Applicant or his children, or any member of his family, or any appointee who served under his administration, or forcefully taking over properties of his children or any member of his family, or any appointee who served under his administration, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating motion.”
Justice Liman also announced that the interim order would remain in operation until the hearing of the motion for the enforcement of Fundamental Human Rights scheduled for July 14, 2023.
The eight respondents named in the suit are the Nigeria Police, Inspector-General of Police, Commissioner of Police Kano State, State Security Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Attorney General of the Federation, Attorney General of Kano State, and Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission.
The hearing and determination of the substantive originating motion will shed more light on the allegations and issues surrounding the case. Until then, the interim order serves as a protective measure for the former governor and his associates, safeguarding them from any form of harassment or intimidation.
The defendants, on the other hand, are yet to issue an official statement regarding the court’s interim order.
