Kano High Court Issues Restraining Order Against Police in Anti-Graft Boss Case

The Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, has been protected from detention, harassment, or arrest by a restraining order issued by a Kano State High Court against the Nigeria Police Force. This legal development follows Rimingado’s arrest by police on Friday night, which sparked questions about how the police department was treating him.

The Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (Zone 1, Kano), the Commissioner of Police in Kano State, ASP Ahmed M. Bello, and Bala Muhammad Inuwa are the defendants in the case, which is being heard by the Attorney General of Kano State, the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, and Rimingado as plaintiffs. After a motion ex parte and supporting documentation were submitted, Justice Sunusi Ado Ma’aji delivered the decision on Monday.

A six-paragraph affidavit dated January 27, 2025, sworn by Abubakar Muhammad, a litigation secretary at the law firm of Messrs. A. K. Maude and Co., was attached to the motion. Additionally, a written address supporting the motion was filed by the applicant’s attorney. Following a review of the paperwork, Justice Ma’aji issued the restraining order, which prevented any more police attempts to detain, invite, or arrest Rimingado. To address the motion on notice, the court also set a hearing for February 2, 2025.

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The incident started on Friday when Nigeria Police Force agents detained Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado at the Zone 1 Police Headquarters in Kano. After being held for a few hours and interrogated by the police, he was eventually released on conditional bail at approximately 11 p.m. that same evening. Rimingado was told to report to Force Headquarters in Abuja on Monday for additional interrogation despite the bail.

Given his important role in combating corruption in the state, the PCACC chairman’s arrest has sparked questions about the reasons behind the police action. There are more concerns about the reasons behind Rimingado’s detention, and this police action may be seen as an attempt to sabotage the Kano State government’s anti-corruption initiatives. The legal process will probably clarify the situation and ascertain whether the police actions were motivated by any hidden agendas.

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission will continue to function under judicial oversight as the case develops, and the question of police behavior is anticipated to continue to be a major concern. Following the court’s intervention, the case is now in the hands of the judiciary, and its future will be decided at the upcoming hearing on February 2.

This incident will probably have wider ramifications for how anti-corruption initiatives are implemented in Nigeria and underscores the persistent conflict between law enforcement and anti-graft agencies, especially at the state level. High-ranking police officials’ involvement in the case indicates how important the outcome is, and those involved in the fight against corruption in Nigeria will be closely monitoring it.

Media organizations like Probitas Reporter, which have kept a close eye on the events leading up to this arrest and legal action, have also taken notice of the case. The case’s ongoing coverage will probably offer important new perspectives on the conflict in Nigeria between law enforcement and anti-corruption organizations.