Kano Anti-Graft Commission Boss appeals CCT suspension

The Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado has appealed his suspension by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Friday.

Daily Trust reports that a three-member tribunal headed by Justice Danladi Umar, had, on Thursday in Abuja, ordered Magaji’s suspension following allegations of misconduct preferred against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

Delivering the ruling, Justice Umar, who dismissed Magaji’s motion, held that the tribunal had the competence and jurisdiction to hear the case.

He directed Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to appoint the most appropriate officer to take over as Acting Chairman of the Commission, pending the hearing and determination of the case.

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He held that Magaji could not continue to discharge the duties and responsibilities of his office while facing trial, to avoid any interference with the case.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, Magaji, through his counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, approached the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

In the notice of appeal dated and filed April 5 by Adedipe, the senior lawyer gave five grounds why the appeal should be allowed and the CCT’s ruling be set aside by the appellate court.

He argued that the CCT erred in law, when it denied his client a right to fair trial, fair hearing and right to be presumed innocent, by making an order directing him to step aside as the chairman of PCACC, thereby determining his guilt, at an interlocutory stage while described the ruling as “a miscarriage of justice.”

He also argued that the tribunal erred in law, when without the requisite jurisdiction, it granted the reliefs sought by CCB, giving specific orders to Gov. Yusuf and SSG, “knowing fully well that they are not parties to the present charge as constituted; it thereby occasioned a miscarriage of justice.”

He further said that the tribunal erred in law when it adjudged Magaji as capable of interfering with CCB’s witnesses in PCACC, even though no material evidence was put forward to support such a speculative claim.

The lawyer argued that the tribunal erred in law when it acted without jurisdiction and denied the embattled PCACC boss of a right to fair trial by making far-reaching findings which were speculative and prejudicial in nature.

Moreover, Adedipe submitted that CCT erred in law, acted without jurisdiction and denied Magaji a right to fair hearing, when suo motu, it raised and determined issues of purported contradictions his counter-affidavit, and further insisted he conceded to the speculative facts in CCB’s further and better affidavit.

Adedipe, in a motion on notice with charge number: CCT/KN/01/2023 dated and filed on April 5 before the tribunal, also sought an order for stay of execution of the order delivered on April 4 pending the determination of the appeal lodged at the Appeal Court.

Besides, he also sought an order of injunction restraining the CCB from executing and implementing the orders and decisions made by the tribunal, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.