The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Kano, has refused separate ex parte applications sought to restrain Kano State Executive Council from retrieving official vehicles from former commissioners who resigned from the cabinet.

The former commissioners, who filed an ex parte application against the Kano State Government, urged the court to grant an interim injunction restraining the government pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice.

In their respective actions, the claimants listed the Attorney General of Kano State, the Governor of Kano State, and the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission as defendants.

The plaintiffs, represented by Suraj Sa’ed, SAN, and five other lawyers, are essentially seeking to restrain the state government from retrieving official vehicles allocated to them while in office. They insisted the motions ex parte were in pursuant to Order 17 Rule 1 of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2017.

The plaintiffs are Dr Yusuf Ibrahim K/Mata, former Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation; AVM Ibrahim Umar (Rtd), former Commissioner for Internal Security; Nasir Sule Garo, former Commissioner for Special Duties; Adamu Aliyu Kibiya, former Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation; and Mustapha Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, former Commissioner for Youth.

In the process filed before the court, the claimants contended that upon their appointments into the Kano State Executive Council, they were allocated official vehicles as part of their conditions of service.

They argued that, by convention and in line with the determination of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, commissioners are entitled to retain such vehicles at the end of their tenure.

According to the affidavits filed in support of the applications, the former commissioners resigned their appointments in January 2026.
They alleged that subsequent letters from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government directed them to return all official vehicles in their possession.

Separate communications from the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission also reportedly warned that failure to comply could result in enforcement measures to recover government property.

The plaintiffs, therefore, urged the court to grant the applications in the interest of justice, arguing that the balance of convenience favoured the applicants.

In his ruling, Justice Mahmood Abba Namtari declined to grant the plaintiffs’ interim orders; instead, he directed the claimants to put the defendants on notice.

Justice Namtari adjourned the suits to March 10, 2026, for hearing on substantive applications.

Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission on Thursday recovered the official vehicles from the commissioners who voluntarily resigned from the state executive council.

The Anti-Corruption Commission had told journalists that the recovery exercise, carried out by commission operatives, followed the alleged continued refusal to return public property to the government.

Chairman of the Commission, Sa’idu Yahaya, who led the operation, said it was prompted by formal complaints and a notification from the Office of the Secretary to the Kano State Government, which is the custodian of all government vehicles.

The chairman further alleged that some of the commissioners had sold the official vehicles shortly after leaving office.

According to the Anti-Corruption boss, “Government assets are not personal property. Once an official leaves office, all government vehicles and assets in their custody must be returned immediately”.