The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has dismissed a suit seeking to stop the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) from probing alleged financial impropriety in Kano State’s scholarship funds.
The case arose after ICPC invited officials of the state’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scholarship Board to provide documents during its investigation. Instead of complying, the applicants, led by Permanent Secretary Dr. Hadi Bala, sued the Attorney-General of the Federation and ICPC, claiming the invitations breached their fundamental rights.
Delivering judgment, Justice Josephine Obanor held that ICPC’s invitation letters did not violate any rights and reaffirmed the Commission’s statutory power to investigate. The court also struck out the Attorney-General as a party to the case, ruling his joinder unnecessary, while directing that officials of the Scholarship Board be properly joined.
The suit was dismissed for lack of merit.
ICPC welcomed the ruling, describing it as a boost to its mandate of tackling corruption and financial misconduct. The Commission pledged to remain committed to transparency, accountability, and due process in its operations.
