Court Clears ICPC to Probe Kano Scholarship Funds
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, has dismissed a suit seeking to stop the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) from investigating alleged mismanagement of scholarship funds in Kano State.
Justice Josephine Obanor, in her ruling on Tuesday, held that an invitation issued by the anti-graft agency for investigation purposes does not amount to a violation of fundamental rights.
The case followed a petition alleging financial irregularities in the administration of the Kano State Scholarship Fund.
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In response, the ICPC invited officials of the Ministry of Higher Education and the Scholarship Board to submit documents and clarifications.
But the applicants, led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Hadi Bala, approached the court under Suit No. CV/2857/2025, claiming the invitations breached their rights.
Justice Obanor ruled that the officials of the Scholarship Board be joined as proper parties to the case while the Attorney-General of the Federation was struck out as unnecessary.
She further held that the applicants failed to prove any violation of their rights and stressed that the ICPC cannot be restrained from performing its lawful duty of investigation.
The suit was subsequently dismissed for lacking merit.
Reacting, the ICPC described the ruling as a major judicial endorsement of its statutory mandate, reiterating its commitment to transparency, accountability, and due process in public service.
