Court orders release of ex-Kano Commissioner over alleged N1bn fraud
Wada-Saleh was on July 4, arraigned by the Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) at a Kano Chief Magistrates’ Court, on two-count count charge of giving false information and cheating.
A Federal High Court sitting in Kano on Friday ordered the release of a former Kano State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Malam Idris Wada-Saleh, from detention pending the determination of the originating motion.
Wada-Saleh was arraigned on July 4 by the Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) at a Kano Chief Magistrates’ Court on a two-count charge of giving false information and cheating.
He, however, filed a motion ex parte on July 11 through his counsel, Abdulgafar Murtala Esq., urging the court to restrain the commission from further detaining or intimidating him.
The respondents in the suit included the PCACC, Chief Magistrate Tijjani Sale-Minjibir, Muhyi Magaji Rimingado, the Kano State Government, the state Attorney General, AIG Zone 1, the State Commissioner of Police, the Department of State Security Service, and the Civil Defence Corps.
Justice S. A. Amobeda granted the prayer and ordered the first to third respondents to forthwith release the plaintiff from detention.
He also ordered the respondents, their agents, servants, privies, or anyone acting on their behalf to restrain them from further arresting, detaining, or intimidating the plaintiff.
“The second respondent is here by order to stay any other proceedings in respect of this case pending the hearing of the originating motion.
“This matter shall be given an accelerated hearing,” he said.
Amobeda adjourned the matter until July 19 for hearing.
The former commissioner was accused of misappropriating N1billion meant for rehabilitation of some roads in the Kano.