From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
Kano state government has challenged the jurisdiction of a Federal High Court sitting in Kano to stop the probing of alleged involvement of the deposed Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi 11 in N2.2 billion land racketeering.
Counsels to the state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the state Attorney General, Ibrahim Mukhtar who were joined in the suit by the deposed Emir, on Wednesday challenged the jurisdiction of the Court to hear a case on allegation of land scam leveled against the dethroned Emir Muhammad Sanusi II.
Counsels Governor Ganduje and the Attoney General filed the application challenging the jurisdiction of the Court on 17th March, 2020.
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The AUTHORITY recalls that deposed Emir Sanusi had on Friday 6th March, 2020 approached the court with an Ex-parte Motion against the Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission (1st respondent), it’s chairman, Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado (second respondent), Attorney General, Kano State (third respondent) and Governor Ganduje (fourth respondent), seeking that the court restrain the first and second respondents from investigating the affairs of the applicant, pending the hearing of Originating Motion.
The Court granted the order and adjourned till 18th March, 2020.
Upon resumption of the case on Wednesday, the plaintiff counsels led by Nasir Dangiri SAN informed the court about the application filed by the State Attorney General, Ibrahim Mukhtar and Governor Ganduje joined in the case as 3rd and 4th respondents respectively challenging the jurisdiction of the Court to hear the case.
Dangiri however sought for extension of time to respond to the application filed by Governor Ganduje and the state Attoney General.
The presiding Judge, Justice Lewis Allagoa, however, adjourned the case till 23rd March, 2020 for hearing of the motion challenging the jurisdiction of the Court and to also hear the Originating Motion pending before the court.
The State Counsel, Khalifa A. Hashim appeared for the Attorney General and Governor Ganduje, while Usman Fari led other counsels to represent Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission and its Chairman, Muhyi Magaji Rimingado in the case.
