The attempt by Kano State Public Compliant and Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the national Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, has suffered a setback as a Federal High Court sitting in Kano has ruled that PCACC lacked power to investigate the former Governor over alleged $5 million bribery video.
The presiding judge, Justice Abdullahi Liman, while delivering the judgment on Tuesday, said the alleged offence is a federal offence that could only be prosecuted by the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Mr Liman, however, said the anti-graft agency had a limitation to investigate the former governor.
“The offence is a federal offence and ought to have been reported before the AGF and EFCC.
“The scope of the anti-corruption is limited to specific power to investigate Federal offences,” Mr Liman said.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the judgment, counsel to the anti-graft agency, Usman Umar-Fari, said they would appeal the matter at the appellate court.
Mr Ganduje, through his counsel, Matthew Burkaa, SAN, had filed a motion ex parte, dated July 7, 2023 on fundamental rights enforcement procedure rules 2009 under Section 46 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
The applicant sought the court to restrain PCACC from arresting, investigating and inviting Mr Ganduje over the alleged dollar video.
The respondents in the case were Kano state Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission, Nigeria Police, Inspector-General of Police, Commissioner of Police Kano State, State Security Services and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Others are Attorney General of the Federation and Attorney General of Kano State.
