The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned the suspension of Muhuyi Magaji, Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC).
Delivering judgment on Friday, a three-member panel led by Justice Umaru Fadawu ruled that the suspension, issued by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), violated Magaji’s right to a fair hearing and was procedurally flawed.
Justice Fadawu directed that the case be reassigned to a different panel within the tribunal for proper adjudication.
Magaji was suspended on April 4, 2023, over allegations of misconduct raised by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). Following the suspension, the CCT, chaired by Justice Danladi Umar, instructed Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf and the Secretary to the State Government to appoint an interim chairman for the commission while investigations continued.
Magaji’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, challenged the suspension, arguing that it was unjust and denied his client a fair trial. Adedipe also accused the tribunal of overstepping its jurisdiction by involving state officials who were not parties to the case.
The appellate court agreed, describing the tribunal’s actions as speculative and lacking evidentiary support. Justice Fadawu criticized the CCT for breaching legal standards and affirmed Magaji’s constitutional right to due process.
Reacting to the ruling, Magaji expressed gratitude, calling it a victory for justice and the rule of law. He pledged to continue serving the people of Kano with dedication and integrity.
The court further ordered that the ongoing case against Magaji, involving 10 charges of alleged conflict of interest and false asset declaration, be transferred to a new panel for an impartial review.
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