The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside the order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), which suspended Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado,as the Chairman, Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC).
In a judgment read by Justice Umaru Fadawu, on behalf of the panel of judges, the judge equally directed that the matter be re-assigned to another panel of the CCT.
The appeal court concurred with the arguments of Magaji’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, that the tribunal’s order was prejudicial and amounted to his client’s denial of fair hearing.
It would be recalled that the three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Danladi Umar, had granted the order way back in 2024 following allegations of misconduct preferred against Magaji by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
In that ruling, Justice Umar, who dismissed Magaji’s motion, held that the tribunal had the competence and jurisdiction to hear the case.
He further directed Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to appoint the most appropriate officer to take over as acting chairman of the commission, pending the hearing and determination of the case.
He further held that Magaji cannot continue to discharge the duties and responsibilities
On Nov. 16, 2023, Magaji was arraigned before the CCT on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conflict of interest, false declaration of assets, among others.
Magaji, who pleaded not guilty to all the counts was admitted to bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties.
