An improper court service stalled the scheduled arraignment of the Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Professor Sani Lawal Malumfashi, alongside the Commission’s Secretary, Mr. Anas Muhammed Mustapha, and Deputy Director (Accounts), Mr. Ado Garba, at the Federal High Court No. 6, Abuja.
The three officials are facing a 10-count charge filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the alleged laundering of ₦1.02 billion during the 2024 local government election exercise.
During the brief proceedings, the prosecuting counsel, Barrister Enosa Omoghibo, an Assistant Director in the Legal Department of the ICPC, informed the court that “The matter is slated for arraignment, but the defendants were not in court.”
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However, the defendants’ counsel, M.A. Magaji, SAN, drew the court’s attention to the fact that there was no proper service on the defendants and submitted that service is both intricate and fundamental to the court’s jurisdiction. The court noted the observation and the case.
He further stated that “Failure to duly serve the defendants with the charge sheet and other court documents rendered their physical appearance in court impossible.”
In a telephone interview with newsmen, the Commissioner for Legal Affairs of KANSIEC, Barrister Muntari Dandago, confirmed that the judge, Justice J.J. Malik, subsequently adjourned the case to November 24, 2025, to enable proper service and ensure that all parties are present for the commencement of full legal proceedings.
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