Desmond Mgboh, Kano
Kano State House of Assembly has said it will continue with its investigation of the $5 million bribery allegation against Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, despite an injunction by an High Court in the state asking all affected parties to maintain status-quo ante.
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Chairman of the seven-man investigative committee, Baffa Babba Dan Agundi, said this during a press conference at the Assembly, yesterday evening.
Agundi said following a meeting, in the light of the court order, it was discovered that the court did not specifically ask the committee to stop or suspend the ongoing investigation.
He said the committee will respect the court by entering an appearance on the matter on Monday, but, at the same time, it would not stop its work on the matter, for the reason that it was not asked to stop.
“There is no court order stating that this committee should stop its work.
“There is no such order based on the paper that was served this House. So, if we are not mandated to stop by the court and we continue with our work, we are not doing anything wrong.
“Had it been the court said ‘stop this investigation’, it is very clear….., but, there is no such order. They only said maintain the status quo,” he said.
He assured that the House would be the first to respect the rule of law, adding that once the court comes out clearly to ask them to stop, they would stop the investigation.
A Kano High Court, presided by Justice Ahmed Tijjani Badamasi, had, on Monday, issued an interim injunction stopping the ongoing investigation by the Assembly on the $5 million bribery allegation against Ganduje.
The order of the court was sequel to a suit filed on by a legal practitioner in the state, Muhammad Zubair, for himself and on behalf of a group, “Lawyers for Sustainable Democratisation of Nigeria.”