The Kano High Court has dismissed corruption charges against former Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Murtala Sule Garo, along with five co-defendants. The ruling, delivered by Justice Sanusi Ado Ma’aji at High Court No. 15 on Miller Road, concluded that the case was based on a flawed investigation and lacked the necessary legal authority. This decision effectively ends the case marked K/133c/2024, which 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 examined two critical issues: whether prosecution could proceed without a proper investigation and whether the commission had the legal authority to handle corruption cases. On the first issue, the judge ruled that no criminal prosecution can move forward without some form of investigation, referencing the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2019. He emphasized that investigation is a fundamental requirement in any criminal case. In his certified judgment dated February 4, 2026, the judge stated, “I hold that the complainant herein cannot investigate any issue that borders on corruption or corrupt practices,” clarifying that such powers are under federal jurisdiction rather than state authorities.
As a result of these findings, the court struck out the charges and discharged all defendants. This 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 highlights the importance of adhering to proper legal procedures in anti-corruption prosecutions and underscores the jurisdictional limitations faced by state-level anti-corruption bodies in Nigeria. Legal experts note that this judgment reinforces the principle that even high-profile corruption cases must comply with fundamental due process requirements, including thorough investigation and clear legal authority for prosecution.
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