A Federal High Court in Kano has struck out a suit filed by the immediate past Deputy Governor of Kano State, Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, seeking to halt impeachment proceedings initiated against him by the state House of Assembly.

Justice S.M. Shuaibu struck out the case on Thursday after counsel to the applicant, Umar Danbaito, informed the court that his client had decided to discontinue the matter.

Gwarzo had approached the court on March 25 to challenge the impeachment process, which was set in motion by the Kano State House of Assembly earlier in the month.

The Assembly had commenced the proceedings on March 5, following reports that the former deputy governor declined to defect from the New Nigeria People’s Party to the All Progressives Congress alongside Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

At an earlier hearing, the court refused to grant an interim order stopping the impeachment process and instead directed the Assembly to show cause why such relief should not be granted, before adjourning the matter to April 16.

The impeachment notice, reportedly backed by 38 lawmakers, was said to have been issued in accordance with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Allegations against Gwarzo include claims that he received kickbacks from the 44 local government councils in the state between June 2023 and January 2024.