An Abuja High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has upheld the powers of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate alleged mismanagement of scholarship funds in Kano State.
Justice Josephine Obanor delivered the ruling while dismissing a suit filed by the Permanent Secretary of the Kano State Ministry of Higher Education, Dr. Hadi Bala, and others who had sought to block the ICPC from inviting officials for questioning.
The case stemmed from a petition to the anti-graft agency alleging irregularities in the management of Kano’s scholarship funds. In response, ICPC invited officials of the Ministry of Higher Education and the Scholarship Board to provide documents and clarifications.
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Rather than comply, the applicants approached the court with suit No. CV/2857/2025, filed against the Attorney-General of the Federation and the ICPC, claiming the invitation violated their fundamental rights.
Justice Obanor ruled that the Attorney-General was wrongly joined in the case and ordered his name struck out. She further held that ICPC acted within its statutory mandate, stressing that an invitation for investigation does not constitute a breach of rights.
The court dismissed the suit for lack of merit, affirming that the ICPC cannot be restrained from carrying out its responsibilities under the law.
In its reaction, the ICPC welcomed the judgment, describing it as a significant victory that reinforces its determination to ensure accountability and transparency in the management of public resources.
