The Chairman of Kano Public Complaint and Anti-corruption Commission (PCACC), Muhyi Magaji Rimingado has been suspended by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
The anti-graft agency boss was arraigned in Abuja on Thursday over alleged breach of the code of conduct for public officers, conflict of interest, abuse of office, false asset declaration, bribery and accepting gifts, among others.
The Tribunal granted the Complainant’s application directing the defendant to step aside as the Chairman of PCACC over the allegation of contravening the provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act CAP C15 LFN 2004 pending the hearing and determination of the case against the Defendant/Respondent that is pending before this Tribunal.
An Order directing the Executive Governor of Kano state and the Secretary to the state government to take all necessary steps to appoint the most appropriate officer to take over as Acting Chairman of the Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission pending the hearing and determination of the case against the Defendant/Respondent that is before the Tribunal.
However, government sources say that the government will be appealing the ruling as there is a standing court order restraining the arraignment, and processes of the Code of Conduct Bureau, the EFCC and others.
It could be recalled that the Kano State government had dragged the Federal Government before the state High Court over what it described as harassment and intimidation of the state Anti-corruption Commission (PCACC) by three federal agencies.
This is sequel to an invitation sent to the PCACC and its officials by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and Code of Conduct Bureau, respectively, to answer questions over the commission’s administration from 2011 to date.
In an exparte order, the court, presided by Justice Farouk Adamu, ordered the federal agencies and their agents to stop questioning or investigating officials of the PCACC.
The court also ordered the agencies to stop meddling into the matters of the anti-graft agency.
The Order with suit no K/M1128/2023, further advised all the parties involved in the case to maintain status quo.