Court declines bid to halt impeachment move against Kano deputy gov

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has declined an application by the Kano State Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, seeking to halt ongoing impeachment proceedings initiated against him by the Kano State House of Assembly.

Gwarzo, through his counsel, Umar Danbaito, had filed an ex parte application requesting an interim injunction to stop the impeachment process pending the determination of a substantive suit before the court.

Ruling on the application on Wednesday, Justice S.M. Shaibu held that the applicant failed to meet the legal requirements for the grant of an interim order and consequently refused the request.

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The judge, however, directed the applicant to serve the respondents with the court processes to enable them respond accordingly. The matter was adjourned to April 16, 2026.

The Kano State House of Assembly had recently served Gwarzo with a notice of impeachment over allegations bordering on financial impropriety and abuse of office, giving him a two-week ultimatum to respond.

The impeachment notice was reportedly signed by 38 lawmakers from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and two members of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). It was moved by the Majority Leader, Lawan Husaini, representing Dala constituency.

According to the lawmakers, the action was taken in line with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which outlines procedures for the removal of a deputy governor.

The notice detailed multiple allegations against Gwarzo, including claims that he received kickbacks from the 44 local government councils in the state between June 2023 and January 2024. Lawmakers alleged that he collected about N1.5 million monthly from each council, amounting to approximately N66 million per month and a total of N462 million over the seven-month period.

Further allegations stated that between February and July 2024, the deputy governor received an additional N726 million under the pretext of executing special assignments for the councils.

The lawmakers also accused Gwarzo of abusing his office by allegedly facilitating the release of N440 million from the councils to Novomed Pharmaceuticals Limited in violation of procurement and fiscal regulations.

The case is expected to resume in April as legal proceedings continue.