…awards monarch 200,000naira
A Federal High Court in Kano has nullified the preliminary report of the Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-corruption Commission, PCACC, which recommended the suspension of the Emir of Kano, MUHAMMADU SANUSI II, pending its investigation into his alleged financial misappropriation against the monarch in the administration of the Kano Emirate Council.
The preliminary report entitled, “the Preliminary report of Investigation of financial misappropriation against the Kano Emirate Council under the Present Emir Muhammadu Sanusi 11”, had also recommended the suspension of all other persons connecting to the case or serving in the Kano Emirate Council pending the final outcome of the investigation of the commission.
But the court yesterday held that the commission failed to hear the side of the monarch before the release of the preliminary report adding that such an omission was against the principle of fair hearing and natural justice. It then awarded a cost of N200,000 to the monarch.
The monarch had dragged the respondents – the Commission, GOVERNOR GANDUJE and the state Attorney-General – to court, seeking a declaration that the findings of PCACC as contained in its preliminary report that was issued on 6th June 2019, was a breach of his fundamental right to a fair hearing.