Kano High Court Dismisses Corruption Case Against Former Commissioner Murtala Sule Garo
A High Court in Kano State has dismissed corruption charges against former Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Murtala Sule Garo, and five co-defendants, ruling that the case was built on a flawed investigation and lacked proper legal authority.
Justice Sanusi Ado Ma’aji delivered the judgment at High Court No. 15 on Miller Road, effectively ending the case marked K/133c/2024. The prosecution had been brought by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission against Garo and others, including Mohd Sule Garo, Mustapha Sule Garo, Isah Musa Kera, MJ Multipurpose Services Ltd., and A.U. Future Investment Ltd.
The court focused on two fundamental issues: whether prosecution can proceed without proper investigation, and whether the commission has the legal authority to handle corruption cases. On the first point, the judge ruled unequivocally that no criminal prosecution can proceed without some form of investigation, citing the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2019. He emphasized that investigation is a basic requirement in any criminal case.
“I hold that the complainant herein cannot investigate any issue that borders on corruption or corrupt practices,” the judge stated in his certified judgment dated February 4, 2026, noting that such powers fall under federal jurisdiction rather than state authorities.
Based on these findings, the court struck out the charges and discharged all defendants. The ruling comes at a politically sensitive time in Kano, where members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have recently nominated Garo as a leading contender for the deputy governorship position following the resignation of Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo.
The decision underscores the importance of proper legal procedures in anti-corruption prosecutions and highlights jurisdictional limitations for state-level anti-corruption bodies in Nigeria. Legal experts note that the judgment reinforces the principle that even high-profile corruption cases must adhere to fundamental due process requirements, including proper investigation and clear legal authority for prosecution.
