Muhuyi’s absence stalls Kano Assembly’s probe of his graft allegations

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News Desk

The suspended Chairman of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Muhuyi Magaji has refused to appear before the Kano State House of Assembly ad-hoc committee investigating him, citing health challenges.

The Kano State House of Assembly had invited the suspended anti-graft boss to appear before its ad-hoc committee investigating a petition against him on Wednesday, July 14, 2021.

The lawmakers suspended the anti-graft boss for one month over alleged rejection of an accountant posted to his commission by the office of the Accountant-General of the state.
Following the suspension of Magaji, Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, last Thursday, appointed Mahmoud Balarabe as the acting Executive Chairman of the commission.

Magaji, in an interview with journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, said he was unable to appear before the State of House of Assembly due to an undisclosed medical condition.

Findings by SAHELIAN TIMES showed that his lawyers presented a “follow Medical certificate” document to the State House of Assembly.

Magaji, however, insisted that his suspension by the lawmakers was done out of cruelty, saying he was never giving a fair hearing.

According to him, the letter inviting him was dumped at his residence on Monday while he was away on a medical appointment at the National Hospital, Abuja.

He added that the letter did not provide details of the said petition against him, demanding that the lawmakers furnish him a Certified True Copy of the petition for a proper response.

“The fact on ground is that this is a premeditated action against me. On the letter of invitation sent to me, they said they were inviting me based on complaints against me when I was the then chairman.

“They did not state the so-called complaints. So on what ground are they inviting me to defend myself?, “ he queried.

The Secretary of the committee and Deputy Director, Legal Services, Kano State House of Assembly, Barr. Abdullahi Abdulsalam Bature, however, said the postponement was due to the letter forwarded to the house by Counsel to Muhuyi Rimigado stating ill health and request for some documents.
‘’We were served a letter by the lawyers of the suspended Chairman of the commission stating that he is ill, attending to his health in Abuja and demanded some documents which we would oblige them,’’ Barr. Bature said.

When asked by Journalists on the next date of the sitting, he said that would be communicated to the Counsel of Magaji later.
Muhuyi’s lawyer, Barr. Usman Umar Fari in a document submitted to the house of assembly said that the suspended Chairman of the Commission is attending to his health in Abuja, hence he forwarded his hospital documents from the National Hospital Abuja.
He noted that apart from the health issue, they are requesting from the house, to provide them with a certified True Copy of the petition against Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado.

Also, they are requesting for the resolution of the House suspending him, Press releases by the house on the issue and another time to honour the invitation of the house after his medical appointments.

‘’ Since he was suspended by the house on July 5th, there was no single letter, nor a copy of the allegation against him. The only document we have sent to him was the invitation letter sent to him dated July 12th. Hence he needed to be inform of the allegations against him,’’ said Barr. Fari.

“The request is in line with the basic principles of fair hearing and fair trial as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which frowns at a trial by ambush.’’

Barr. Usman Fari, explained that ‘’Our client is very willing and ready to honour the house invitation, however, he must be obliged adequate time in line with medical advice of his physicians.’’

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