The National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Kano has declined a request by five former members of the Kano State Executive Council seeking to prevent the state government from reclaiming official vehicles assigned to them while in office.
The applicants include Dr. Yusuf Kofar-Mata (former Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation), retired AVM Ibrahim Umar (former Commissioner for Internal Security), Nasir Sule Garo (former Commissioner for Special Duties), Adamu Aliyu Kibiya (former Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation), and Mustapha Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso (former Commissioner for Youth).
Through their counsel, Mr. Suraj Sa’ed, SAN, the ex-commissioners filed an ex-parte motion under Order 17 Rule 1 of the court’s Civil Procedure Rules (2017), requesting an interim injunction to restrain the state government and its agents from retrieving the vehicles pending the determination of their substantive motion.
The respondents listed in the suit are the Attorney General of Kano State, the Governor of Kano State, and the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission.
The former commissioners argued that the vehicles were part of their official entitlements and conditions of service during their tenure. They maintained that, by convention and in line with determinations of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, commissioners are entitled to retain official vehicles after leaving office.
In affidavits supporting their application, they stated that although they resigned in January 2026, they later received directives from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government instructing them to return the vehicles.
Court’s Ruling
Delivering the ruling, Justice Mahmood Abba-Namtari refused to grant the interim relief sought without first hearing from all parties involved. He ordered that the respondents be served notice to enable them respond before any temporary order could be considered.
The case has been adjourned to March 10 for hearing.
Freedomonline reports that the resignations followed political developments linked to Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
