Court Refuses To Stop Kano Gov’t From Retrieving Ex-Commissioners’ Vehicles

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, sitting in its Kano Judicial Division, has declined to grant interim orders sought by some former members of the Kano State Executive Council to stop the state government from retrieving official vehicles allocated to them while in office.

Justice Mahmood Abba Namtari delivered the ruling on Monday after considering separate ex parte applications filed by the former commissioners.

The applications, which arose from similar circumstances and sought identical reliefs, were consolidated and heard together.

In a brief decision, the judge refused to grant the interim injunctions and directed that the matters be heard on notice, ensuring that all parties will be given the opportunity to present their arguments before any temporary relief is considered.

The cases were subsequently adjourned to March 10, 2026, for further proceedings.

Those named as defendants in the suits are the Attorney General of Kano State, the Governor of Kano State and the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission.

The former commissioners were represented by Suraj Sa’ed, SAN, who led a team of five other counsel.

The claimants, who resigned in January 2026, include Dr Yusuf Ibrahim K/Mata, former Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation; AVM Ibrahim Umar (Rtd), former Commissioner for Internal Security; Nasir Sule Garo, former Commissioner for Special Duties; Adamu Aliyu Kibiya, former Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation; and Mustapha Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, former Commissioner for Youth and Sports.

They told the court that they later received correspondence from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government directing them to return all official vehicles in their possession.

They also alleged that separate communications from the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission warned that enforcement steps could be taken to recover government property if they failed to comply.

Through motions filed pursuant to Order 17 Rule 1 of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (Civil Procedure Rules 2017), the claimants sought interim injunctions restraining the respondents from taking steps to retrieve the vehicles pending the hearing of their substantive motions.

Counsel to the applicants argued that the purpose of an interim injunction is to preserve the status quo until the court determines the substantive rights of the parties.

They maintained that the balance of convenience favoured the applicants and urged the court to intervene in the interest of justice.

In refusing the ex parte applications, Justice Namtari emphasised the need for procedural fairness by ordering that the respondents be put on notice.

The ruling means no interim protection will be granted without first hearing from the state government and other defendants.

The decision does not resolve whether the former commissioners are legally entitled to retain the vehicles but simply indicates the court’s preference for a full hearing before making any temporary or substantive pronouncement.(Daily trust)