The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) Chairman, Barrister Musa Aliyu, SAN, has been referred by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Kano State to the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) for allegedly breaking court orders.
ALGON claimed in a petition to the LPPC that ICPC agents had broken into the Rimin-Gada LGA resident’s interim caretaker residence at night and had taken him into custody against the wishes of a valid court order.
In accordance with the petition Barrister Shamsi Ubale Jibril signed and provided to newsmen, a high court in Kano issued an ex-parte order on August 27, 2024, prohibiting the ICPC and other parties from intimidating, inviting, detaining, or arresting the petitioners.
According to the petition, “I decided to write the petition against the ICPC Chairman for his unprofessional conduct in suit number K/M1622/24, filed by their clients against the Kano State Public Complaint And Anti-Corruption Commission and 6 others, including the ICPC as 2nd respondent.
“A Motion ex-parte filed by our clients was heard and granted on August 27 where an interim ordered restrained respondents, including the ICPC, in whatever guise from disturbing, harassing threat to arrest and or detain the applicants pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
“To our greatest shock and dismay, even after the service of the order on the ICPC, headed by Dr musa Adamu Aliyu, the ICPC has refused and neglects to obey the orders of the Kano State High Court by inviting, harassing and intimidating our clients.
“The ICPC in defiance of the Order of the court kept writing to our clients and texting them demanding them to report to their offices. On the 10th day September, 2024 ICPC officers have attempted to arrest our clients and also harassed and intimidated them.
“Sir, these state of facts necessitated the issuance of form 48 on the ICPC, and the Form 48 is attached as Appendix 2. Our clients also instructed us to file, and we indeed filed a motion on notice dated 11th September, 2024 seeking to prohibit the ICPC from participating in the proceedings until they comply with the order of the Kano State High Court dated 27th August, 2024.
“When the matter came up before the court on the 12th September, 2024, we briefed the court on the prevailing state of affairs and applied that a date be given for the hearing of our motion on notice and the Judge graciously opted to transmit the case back to the CJ of Kano for redirection to another Judge.
“At the court session, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu appeared as counsel for ICPC, and in open court opined that a date be given for the contempt proceedings, signaling that he intended to submit to the authority of the court. We were mistaken.
“Despite the above measures, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu defied the authority of this honorable court (and as well ignored the professional courtesy accorded to him by our humble selves) and directed his men to invade the house of the 35th applicant in the suit, the Chairman of Rimin Gado Local Government, Kano on the 13th September, 2024 at night, arrested him and illegally detained him at their head office in Abuja in connection with the subject matter of the pending case, and in clear violation of the order of the court.
“We urge you investigate this matter with a view to ensuring that leaned Silks admitted to the Inner Bar by your exalted Committee conform to the highest standard of behaviors and adherence to the rule of law.”
