By Nkechi Eze
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured a major judicial victory as the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, reaffirmed the Commission’s statutory powers to investigate allegations of corruption and dismissed a suit seeking to restrain it.
In an official signed statement, the spokesperson for the commission Demola Bakare disclosed that the case stemmed from a petition received by the ICPC alleging financial impropriety in the administration of scholarship funds in Kano State. Acting on the petition, the Commission extended invitations to officials of the Kano State Ministry of Higher Education and the Kano State Scholarship Board to provide relevant documents and clarifications.
However, instead of honouring the invitation, the Permanent Secretary of the Kano State Ministry of Higher Education, Dr. Hadi Bala, alongside other officials, instituted a suit against the Attorney-General of the Federation and the ICPC. In the suit, marked CV/2857/2025, they argued that the Commission’s invitation infringed upon their fundamental human rights.
Delivering judgment on the matter, Hon. Justice Josephine Obanor of the FCT High Court struck out the Attorney-General of the Federation as an unnecessary party to the case and ordered that the officials of the Kano State Scholarship Board be properly joined in the proceedings. The court further ruled that an invitation letter issued by the ICPC in the course of an investigation does not amount to a violation of fundamental rights.
Justice Obanor held that the applicants failed to demonstrate any infringement of their rights and reaffirmed that the ICPC cannot be restrained from carrying out its lawful duty of investigation. Consequently, the court dismissed the suit for lacking in merit.
The judgement reaffirms the ICPC’s mandate to fight corruption and financial misconduct across Nigeria. The statement noted that the Commission remains committed to transparency, accountability, and justice in the discharge of its responsibilities.
“The ICPC cannot and will not be hindered from carrying out its statutory functions,” Bakare stated, assuring Nigerians that due process and the rule of law will continue to guide the Commission’s operations.
