Court Rejects Ex-Kano Commissioners’ Bid to Stop Vehicle Retrieval
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in its Kano Judicial Division has declined to grant interim orders sought by some former members of the Kano State Executive Council to stop the state government from retrieving official vehicles allocated to them while in office.
The former commissioners had approached the court seeking ex parte injunctions restraining the Kano State Government and other respondents from taking possession of the vehicles pending the hearing and determination of their substantive suit.
The applicants argued that the vehicles formed part of their entitlements and conditions of service while serving in the executive council. In separate rulings, the trial judge, Justice Mahmood Abba Namtari, declined to grant the interim reliefs.
The court held that the applications would instead be heard on notice, directing that the respondents be formally served to enable them respond to the claims.
The claimants in the suits include former Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Yusuf Kofar-Mata; former Commissioner for Internal Security, AVM Ibrahim Umar (Rtd.); former Commissioner for Special Duties, Nasir Sule Garo; former Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Adamu Aliyu Kibiya; and former Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development,
Mustapha Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso. The respondents listed in the suits are the Attorney General of Kano State, the Governor of Kano State, and the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission.
The former commissioners are challenging moves by the state government to retrieve the official vehicles, insisting that they are entitled to retain them after the expiration of their tenure.
They contend that the vehicles were part of approved benefits attached to their offices. However, by refusing the ex parte applications, the court has effectively cleared the way for the state government to proceed, subject to the outcome of the substantive motion when all parties appear before the court.
The matter has been adjourned for hearing on notice, where arguments from both the claimants and the state government will be fully entertained before a final determination is made.
