By Aaior K. Comfort

In Kano, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and the 44 Local Government Chairmen have petitioned the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee against Musa Aliyu (SAN), Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), for allegedly violating court orders.

The petition, dated September 17, was filed by Baba & Jibril, a Kano-based law firm representing ALGON and the local government chairmen. The petition claims that ICPC’s chairman disobeyed a court order issued on August 27, which restrained the ICPC and other respondents from harassing, threatening, or detaining the petitioners.

According to the petitioners, despite being served with the court order, ICPC continued to contact and intimidate the petitioners. On September 10, 2024, ICPC officers allegedly attempted to arrest the clients, disregarding the court’s directive.

The petitioners also noted that despite their efforts to address the issue, including filing a motion on September 11 to prohibit ICPC from participating in the proceedings, ICPC’s leadership, under Aliyu, ignored these measures. They accused Aliyu of further violations by directing the arrest and detention of the Chairman of Rimin Gado Local Government on September 13, 2024, in contravention of the court’s order.

The petition condemns Aliyu’s actions as unprofessional and unbecoming of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, urging the privileges committee to investigate and ensure that those admitted to the Inner Bar adhere to high standards of behavior and rule of law.

As of the report’s publication, there was no response from Musa Aliyu regarding the allegations.