The Federal High Court sitting in Kano has ordered the immediate removal of Barrister Muhuyi Rimingado, Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), for allegedly disregarding court orders. Justice Simon Amobeda issued this directive prior to delivering a judgment on a fundamental rights suit brought by Mustafa and Muhammad Garo against Rimingado, the Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Inspector General of Police, and three others.
Justice Amobeda also recommended that Rimingado be referred to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for a thorough investigation due to his blatant disregard of court orders. This follows an April 2024 ruling by a Federal High Court that prohibited Rimingado from performing any functions of his office due to a suspension order from the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
Rimingado faced multiple charges before the CCT, including conflict of interest, failure to declare assets, false asset declaration, and abuse of office. Justice Danladi Umar of the CCT had suspended Rimingado, asserting that he should not continue in his role to prevent any interference with the ongoing trial. Despite these rulings, Rimingado continued to occupy his position, prompting Justice Amobeda to instruct the Kano State Attorney General, Haruna Isa Dederi, to enforce compliance with the CCT’s suspension order.
In delivering the judgment for cases FHC/KN/CS/308/2024 and FHC/KN/CS/307/2024, Justice Amobeda fined Rimingado and five other respondents N10 million for character assassination and damaging the applicants’ reputations. Additionally, he issued a perpetual injunction preventing the anti-corruption agency, police, and any other agencies from arresting, investigating, intimidating, or harassing the applicants.
The state anti-graft commission had allegedly initiated a manhunt against the applicants, accusing them of colluding with a former commissioner to siphon public funds through their private companies.