A Kano State High Court sitting at Audu Bako Secretariat has granted order restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting, detaining, harassing, intimidating or inviting the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 general elections, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and seven others.
The applicants are the NNPP, Dr Ajuji Ahmed, Dipo Olayanku, Ahmed Balewa, Chief Clement Anele, Lady Folshade Aliu, Engineer Buba Galadima and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso
The respondent in the suit is the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Yusuf Ubale Muhammad granted the order upon reading the motion exparte dated and filed on June 5, 2024.
“An interim order of injunction is hereby granted, restraining the respondent, either by itself, it’s agents, representatives, cronies, or whosoever acting on It’s behalf, from arresting, detaining, harassing, intimidating, inviting, or in any way infringing on the fundamental rights of the applicants, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed.
“It further ordered that both the interim order granted, the motion on notice and all other processes in this suit shall be served on the respondent timeously and before the adjourned date,” the Judge held.
The case is adjourned to June 24, 2024 for hearing of the motion on notice.
It could be recalled that the EFCC is probing former Governor Kwakwanso over alleged N2.5bn pension fraud.
In May, the anti-graft agency invited and grilled Kwakwanso over the development.
A source familiar with the matter said that the commission invited Kwakwanso over the alleged N2.5bn Kano pension funds and the interrogators have received some details from the former presidential candidate.