The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside the suspension of Muhuyi Magaji, the Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission.
A three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Umaru Fadawu, ruled that the suspension order issued by the Code of Conduct Tribunal was unfair and denied Magaji his right to a fair hearing.
Magaji’s lawyer, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), argued that the Tribunal acted unjustly by suspending his client before the case was fully heard. “The Tribunal’s order was prejudicial and amounted to a miscarriage of justice,” Adedipe said.
The CCT had suspended Magaji on April 4, 2023, over allegations of misconduct filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau. The Tribunal also instructed Governor Abba Yusuf and the Secretary to the State Government to appoint an acting chairman for the commission.
Adedipe challenged the Tribunal’s decision, filing an appeal the day after the ruling. He argued that the suspension violated Magaji’s right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. He added, “There was no evidence to support claims that my client could interfere with witnesses.”
The Court of Appeal agreed with these arguments and directed that the case be reassigned to a different panel of the CCT for a fresh hearing.
Magaji, who is facing a 10-count charge from the CCB, including allegations of conflict of interest and false asset declarations, has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was earlier granted bail in the sum of N5 million.
