The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has handed a decisive victory to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), dismissing a suit that sought to restrain the agency from investigating alleged financial impropriety in Kano State scholarship funds.
The judgement, delivered by Hon. Justice Josephine Obanor, effectively reaffirmed the statutory powers of the Commission to pursue public sector corruption without undue interference.
This was contained in a statement signed by Demola Bakare, fsi, Director of Public Enlightenment and Education and Spokesperson for the Commission.
The statement reads partly: “The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured a major judicial victory as the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, sitting before Hon. Justice Josephine Obanor, dismissed attempts to restrain the Commission from carrying out its statutory mandate of investigation.
“The matter arose from a petition received by the Commission alleging financial impropriety in the administration of Scholarship Funds in Kano State. In the course of the investigation, ICPC invited officials from the Kano State Ministry of Higher Education and the Kano State Scholarship Board to provide documents and clarifications.
“However, rather than comply, the Applicants, led by the Permanent Secretary of the Kano State Ministry of Higher Education, Dr. Hadi Bala, filed Suit No. CV/2857/2025 against the Attorney-General of the Federation and ICPC, alleging that such invitations violated their fundamental rights.”
“Delivering judgment on the matter, Justice Obanor ruled that the officials of the Kano State Scholarship Board be properly joined as parties in the suit and that the Attorney-General of the Federation be struck out as a party, as his joinder was unnecessary.
“The judge held that an invitation letter from ICPC, for an investigation purpose, does not constitute a breach of fundamental rights. The Court held that the Applicants failed to show any violation of their rights and reaffirmed that ICPC cannot be restrained from performing its lawful duty of investigation. Consequently, the suit was dismissed for lack of merit.”
Following the ruling, ICPC officials reaffirmed their commitment to transparency and accountability in public administration.
In response to repeated allegations of mismanagement of scholarship funds in Kano State, the ICPC has intensified efforts to ensure public resources are properly administered. The Commission has called on all relevant state officials to cooperate fully and provide the requested documents, warning that non-compliance could attract legal consequences.
The judgment is widely seen as a reinforcement of anti-corruption measures in Nigeria, providing a legal precedent that protects investigative agencies from undue interference while ensuring that public office holders remain accountable.
ICPC has reiterated that all its operations will continue to be guided by due process, the rule of law, and its statutory mandate to combat corruption.