Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the federal high court in Abuja has struck out the case filed by the independent corrupt practices and other related offences commission against 3 senior officials of the Kano state independent electoral commission.
The defendants are the KANSIEC chairman, professor Sani Lawal Malumfashi, the commission’s secretary, Anas Muhammed Mustapha, and the deputy director of accounts, Ado Garba.
They were billed for arraignment on a 10 count charge bordering on the alleged laundering of 1 billion and 25 million naira linked to the 2024 local government elections.
At an earlier sitting, the ICPC counsel, Barrister Enosa Omoghibo, told the court that the matter was set for arraignment but the defendants were absent. In response, their counsel, M A Magaji, san, argued that the commission had not properly served his clients, insisting that valid service was a fundamental requirement before they could appear.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the proceedings to Monday, November 24, to allow proper service and ensure the presence of all parties.
When the matter was called again for arraignment on Monday, the defendants were still not in court. The judge subsequently struck out the suit.
