Kano State High Court has ruled that Kano State House of Assembly has no power to investigate the $5 million bribery allegation against Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
Delivering the judgement on Thursday, Justice Ahmad Badamasi said collecting bribe from contractors is a criminal offence in section 115 and 116 of penal code, but the House has no capacity to investigate criminal offences.
Mr Badamasi said investigating criminal offence is the function of agencies under executive arms such as the police, EFCC and ICPC.
Badamasi therefore gave an order restraining the House from interviewing or inviting any person on the bribery allegation against Mr Ganduje.
Counsel to Kano Assembly Mahmud Waziri said if the House decides to appeal the judgement he would pursue it, as he represents their interest.
Chairman of the seven-member committee constituted by the Assembly to investigate the alleged bribery, Bappa Dan’ agundi after the ruling said that the Assembly would study the court judgement and take a stand.
“I will not comment on behalf of the House. The House will deliberate on the matter, take a decision and make it public, ” Dan’ agundi said.
National coordinator of Lawyers for Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria Muhammad Zubair filed the suit in Kano High Court, praying the court to determine the constitutional competence of the state lawmakers to investigate the allegation against Ganduje.
