The Kwankwasiyya Movement has petitioned the Chief Judge of Kano State, Justice Dije Aboki, and the Kano State Judicial Service Commission over allegations of selective and politically influenced application of judicial processes against its members and other opposition figures in the state.
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The petitions were submitted on Monday at the Kano State High Court Complex, with the movement asking the judicial authorities to independently examine proceedings involving two of its members before a Shari’a Court sitting in Ungoggo. The Kano judiciary’s official website identifies Justice Dije Aboki as the state’s Chief Judge.
Speaking to journalists after submitting the petitions, leader of the movement and former Kano State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Yusuf Kofarmata, identified the affected members as Abba Ibrahim Hussein, popularly known as Aiha, and Murtala Dawanau.
Kofarmata alleged that the handling of the cases raised concerns about political interference and judicial impartiality.
He accused the presiding Shari’a Court judge, Muhammadu Sharama Abdulkadir, of allegedly compromising judicial processes following what the movement claimed was pressure from the Kano State Government.
The movement, however, stressed that its petitions were not intended to interfere with judicial independence or determine the merits of the pending cases.
“Rather, they call for an institutional examination of specific circumstances surrounding proceedings before certain Magistrates’ and Shari’a Courts, including the treatment of accused persons and counsel, the manner and speed of proceedings, pleas, applications and alleged disparities in the treatment of similarly situated persons,” Kofarmata said.
On the case involving Abba Ibrahim Hussein, the movement raised concerns about the circumstances of his arrest, arraignment and continued detention.
Kofarmata said Hussein had remained in detention for more than 28 days and questioned the bail conditions imposed on him.
According to him, the court initially required Hussein to produce two permanent secretaries as sureties.
“The judge asked him to bring two permanent secretaries. Where will he get this?” he said.
Kofarmata said an application was subsequently made for a review of the conditions, after which the requirements were allegedly changed to two serving directors in the Kano State civil service and a Wakilin Kudu.
“We got the Wakilin Kudu, but he later withdrew from being the surety,” he said.
The movement further alleged that even after the revised bail conditions were eventually fulfilled, Hussein was not released.
Kofarmata claimed the court indicated that his release could only take place upon the direction of the Kano State Attorney-General.
“This is injustice because Aiha is a student and has continued to be remanded for 30 days today. He did not steal anything,” he said.
“This should stop for peace to reign. We will file for compensation because his right as a citizen has been infringed upon.”
The movement also asked the judicial authorities to examine the case of Commissioner of Police v. Alhaji Murtala Dawanau.
According to Kofarmata, the movement was particularly concerned by an allegation that Dawanau did not plead guilty to the charge against him but was nevertheless summarily convicted and sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment without an option of fine.
Kwankwasiyya consequently asked the Chief Judge and the Judicial Service Commission to examine the records and proceedings in both cases rather than accept the movement’s allegations at face value.
The movement also raised what it described as a separate and “grave allegation” concerning the Kano State Attorney-General.
Kofarmata said the allegation related to an alleged threat or intention to deploy or influence judicial officers against persons perceived to be supporters of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and other opposition interests.
The movement further alleged that Kwankwasiyya supporters who are arrested and taken before courts could be denied bail until after the forthcoming general election.
It expressly stated, however, that those allegations were being submitted for independent and impartial verification and should not themselves be treated as established facts.
Kofarmata said the central issue raised by the petitions was equality before the law and the need to safeguard the judiciary from political influence.
“The petition calls for the Judiciary to remain insulated from political pressure and for political affiliation not to become a basis for arrest, prosecution, intimidation, procedural disadvantage or judicial hostility,” he said.
The movement also referred to a recent Amnesty International publication which it said had raised concerns about alleged political repression in Kano.
It consequently asked the Chief Judge and the Judicial Service Commission to conduct what it described as an appropriate administrative examination of the complaints.
Kwankwasiyya requested that lawful disciplinary measures be taken or recommended wherever misconduct or procedural impropriety is established.
It also asked the JSC to refer any matters falling outside its jurisdiction to the appropriate authorities.
The movement said such steps were necessary to preserve public confidence in the independence, integrity and impartiality of the Kano State judiciary.
“The Movement concludes that its intervention is a call for institutional vigilance, transparency, accountability and equal application of the law,” Kofarmata said.
“The Judiciary should remain above political divisions, and all allegations of judicial or political interference should be subjected to objective examination and lawful action.”
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