Court dismisses Kano officials’ suit against ICPC scholarship probe

Thn Abuja High Court has dismissed a suit filed by Kano State officials seeking to stop the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) from investigating alleged fraud in the state’s scholarship scheme.

The ICPC said the case followed a petition alleging financial impropriety in the management of scholarship funds. During the probe, officials from the Ministry of Higher Education and the Scholarship Board were invited to provide documents and clarifications.

Instead, they approached the court, claiming the invitations violated their fundamental rights.

Justice Obanor, however, ruled that ICPC’s invitation letters did not amount to rights violations and reaffirmed the commission’s statutory powers to investigate corruption.

He also ordered that the Scholarship Board be joined in the matter, while striking out the Attorney-General of the Federation as a party.

The court dismissed the suit for lack of merit, affirming that ICPC cannot be restrained from carrying out lawful investigations.

In reaction, the commission described the ruling as a reinforcement of its mandate to ensure accountability and transparency in Nigeria’s public sector.