The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has declared Barr. Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, the suspended Chairman of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, as the Substantive Chairman of the agency.
This is contained in a judgment delivered by the court, presided by Justice Oyejoju O. Oyewumi in Abuja.
Barr. Muhuyi Rimingado had instituted a case before the court challenging his illegal and indefinite suspension from office since July 2021, for rejecting the posting of a GL4 officer as an accountant to the commission and other sundry investigation activities involving the first family of Kano State.
Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi ruled that up till date the appointment of the Claimant by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has not been terminated because no further action or letter of termination of appointment has been given to the complainant, hence Rimingado remains the chairman.
The court further ordered the 1st defendant in the suit (Kano State Government) to pay the Claimant (Rimingado) the sum of N5,713,891.22, being his 17 months salary arrears from the date of his suspension to the date of the judgment (Dec. 14, 2022). The court added the complainant should be paid his monthly salary from the day of the judgment to the date of his reinstatement.
According to the judgment sighted by our correspondent, the suspension letter of the claimant did not specify with or without salary.
Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi also ruled that the suspension of Barr.Muhuyi Rimingado should not be a permanent deprivation of right, unlike termination which required giving the employee an opportunity of being heard.
The court however struck out the relief of Barr. Muhuyi Rimingado to quash his suspension because of a similar case pending before a Kano High Court.
The court also faulted the harassment and intimidation of the embattled anti-corruption czar by the Kano state police command where he was arrested with a warrant that discloses no offence.
Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi viewed such molestation an act of impunity without legal justification and therefore restrained the commissioner of police (the 6th defendant) “perpetually from meddling in the affairs of the claimant in any matter affecting his work place”.
