Suspended Kano Anti-graft Commission Boss Appeals CCT Ruling

Muhuyi Magaji has appealed his suspension by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.

Before his suspension, Magaji was the Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, PCACC.

Recall that the three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Danladi Umar, had, on Thursday in Abuja, ordered Magaji’s suspension following allegations of misconduct preferred against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB.

While delivering the ruling, Justice Umar, who struck out Magaji’s motion, held that the tribunal had the competence and jurisdiction to hear the case.

He directed Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State and the Secretary to the State Government to appoint the most appropriate officer to take over as acting chairman of the commission, pending the hearing and determination of the case.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, Magaji, through his counsel, Adeola Adedipe, approached the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

In the notice of appeal dated and filed April 5 by Adedipe, the senior lawyer gave five grounds why the appeal should be allowed and the CCT’s ruling be set aside by the appellate court.

He argued that the CCT erred in law, when it denied his client a right to fair trial, fair hearing, and right to be presumed innocent, by making an order directing him to step aside as the chairman of PCACC, thereby determining his guilt, at an interlocutory stage.

He described the ruling as “a miscarriage of justice.”

He further said that the tribunal erred in law when it adjudged Magaji as capable of interfering with CCB’s witnesses in PCACC, even though no material evidence was put forward to support such a speculative claim.