Kano 2023: Rimingado seeks protection against police, State Govt
The suspended Chairman of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corrutption Commission, Barr. Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, has alerted the public of threats to his life and sought for protection against what he described as unwarranted persecution and harassment of his person, family and associates by the Police in concert with the Kano State Government.
This is contained in three separate petitions he addressed to the Chairman, Police Service Commission; the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission; and the Inspector General of Police.
A copy of the petition dated April 4, 2022, was obtained by our correspondent.
The 23-paged document, including evidential annextures, is entitled: “COMPLAINT AGAINST THE INCESSANT POLITICALLY MOTIVATED PERSECUTIONS BY THE KANO STATE POLICE COMMISSIONER AT THE INSTIGATION OF KANO STATE GOVERNMENT TO ME, MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY AND ASSOCIATES”.
In the petition, Rimingado now a governorship aspirant in the state on tne platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), chronicled what led to his suspension from office since July 5, 2021, by Governor Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, up to his current travails.
He claimed that the State Government is using the Commissioner of Police, Mr Sama’ila Shuaibu Dikko, to persecute, harass, blackmail, intimidate and threaten his life, family and associates for refusing to do the government bid while in office.
“My name is Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado. I am one time Vice Chairman of Rimin Gado Local Government Council, the immediate past Chairman of Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission, and now gubernatorial aspirant under the platform of PDP.
“I wish to report that since my suspension on the 5th of July 2021, I experience a dramatic shift from the hitherto cordial relationship between me and Mr Samaila Dikko to that of a hostile agent of witchunt and blackmail based on the following facts:
“He immediately withdrew my security details the next day after the suspension took effect. He went further to transfer all the detectives that worked with me, including the Director Operations, a CSP and his assistant, an ASP, even when the letter of my suspension expressively indicated one (1) month for the state House of Assembly to investigate a petition against me, which is purely administrative in nature. This action immediately suggested that CP Sama’ila Dikko is with the syndicate working against me and has joined them to pass the verdict of guilt against me from the start of the so called investigation. His posture has stripped him of his exalted status as an unbiased officer of the law (pls letter of suspension annexed as MM1).
” This development forced me to exit Kano for safety. And because of the nature of the antigraft job I was made to confront the hostile nature of the government that was persecuting me because of investigations in relation to revenue generation in Kano state viz-a-viz violation of Section 2 of the approved list of collection Act. When I was requested to appear before the Assembly that claimed to have suspended me without having to hear from me within 48 hours. I requested through my lawyer for time and facilities, and we annexed a medical test result conducted on me by one Dr Bayo whom I was made understand has an adhoc assignment with the National Hospital Abuja and Maitama Hospital while he works with NCCE Clinic in Mabushi (the invitation letter and my lawyers letter are annexed and marked as MM2).
“When the state High Court issued a restraining order against the state legislature, they hurriedly ignored the court order and transferred the hatchet planned witchunt to the police commissioner with clear instructions to arrest and prosecute me on the allegation of forgery reportedly committed in Abuja through a back dated letter by one Abdullahi Bature and Shehu Muázu; something he is now hell bent on executing without regards to the due process of law and my fundamental rights guaranteed by our Constitution (court order and the petitions against me are annexed and marked as MM3a,b&c ).
“That the same Abdullahi Bature in an affidavit before the National Industial Court sworn to the facts that the Assembly and indeed the government halted all actions in relation to my case because of the implication of the said order. But on the contrary, the Kano State commissioner of police continue his endless onslaught without due regard to the ongoing judicial process before various courts, including the Court of Sppeal. My lawyers initially sent a protest letter to the AIG Zone One, but he appeared to be helpless in the circumstance (NICN affidavit and a letter to AIG are annexed and marked as MM4a&b).
“That during the investigation of the allegation of forgery Dr Bayo admitted to had conducted the test on me and it was indeed conducted at the National Hospital Abuja in his statement and in my presence, he was asked to go back to Abuja and produce Adeyemi and when CP Sama’ila Dikko realised that I was off the hook, he allegedly instructed his staff headed by one SP Mati to follow Dr Bayo to Abuja and promised him safe landing if he changed his statement and stop calling the name of Adeyemi. This gave him a reason to file false information charges against me under pretense that my lawyer claims to the Assembly that I was at the National Hospital and the hospital denied that. But this latest allegation initiated by the CP Dikko was never investigated to see whether or not I indeed told my lawyer so. They made a kangaroo arrangement with a magistrate who had once came under the radar of the commission’s investigation during my tenure just to settle scores. This persecution has gone too far for a law enforcement officer to get involved (copy of the FIR is annexed and marked as MM5).
“That the apparent injustice prompted me to file a fundamental rights application before the Federal High Court in Kano on the 1st of March 2022, which the court declined jurisdiction. However, despite appealing the judgment on the application for stay of execution before the Federal High Court, CP Sama’ila Dikko recklessly directed for the siege at my house in Sharada where I was busy attending to the people who came to support my governorship ambition.(copy of the notice of appeal and motion to stay as well as hearing notice of NICN duly served on the CP are annexed and marked as MM6a,b & c).
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“Prior to this, on the 9th December 2021, despite the court order and the fundamental rights case and in a desperate political move, CP Sama’ila Dikko detained the owner of Laz Event Centre an hour before we start the programme to commemorate the International Anti-Corruption Day, which is a global event, and was forced to lock the place against us. The owner told some of the organisers that he will not pay back the N450,000 (four hundred and fifty thousand naira) because we caused him to lose money with police who even told him to be grateful that they were sent to him because initially they (the government) wanted to send hoodlums (yandaba) to the place and up till now he did not refund the money. This is aside the over N6,000,000 (six million naira) spent in preparation of the event. It took the organisers more than an hour to persuade the converged angry youths to disperse.
“That CP Sama’ila Dikko equally, and apart from the allegation of forgery, opened a framed up investigation headed by one lawyer Abdulsalam where my former members of staff, including that who served as a Secretary of the commission, were invited under the pretense that the acting chairman of the commission alleged that a whooping sum of N600,000,000 (six hundred million naira) was found in the immediate past accountant’s bank account; which is also a huge lie. Yet they continue to invite people thst had worked with me for interrogation just to create a smokescreen that I am under investigation despite the existing court cases.
“Also a police officer, Aminu Fagge from CID, called me sometimes in December 2021, during the pendency of enforcement suit and the court order under reference to come and clear the allegation of fraud against me regarding to a case the commission treated during my time. I did what they are referring in good faith in the discharge of my official responsibility and I made myself available. My statement was obtained by the officer and I also provided them the necessary documents to suggest that the commission acted within its powers. The case so initiated, also contradicts Section 50 of the PCACC Law 2008 as amended. Again, when I challenged my continual suspension before the National Industrial Court in a suit which the CP is a party, yet he ignored the judicial process to satisfy the interest of my persecutors which is in all intent and purposes purely political and a classical case of corruption fighting back.
“I tried to overlook those excesses believing that it will come to pass, but the recent siege on my house and the admission of the PPRO that it was the police that came to my house on Sunday and in the night just to deliver an invitation letter from the court is too naive to be true. The circumstances that led to the siege made me fear for my life and that is what informed the decision to write this petition to your humble office for safety and justice.
“During the siege on my house, neighbours claimed that they noticed the movement of strange people since 2pm and later in the evening around 8pm two vehicles – a Toyota Avensis dark green with registration number ABC 777 AN and Toyota Hilux with no plate number, while two motor cycles were stationed at the other side of the house. All of the occupants didn’t wear uniform but one wore a face cap and a carmour polo t-shirt. When my son summoned the courage to approach them one of the occupants of the motorcycles showed him a constabulary ID card claiming that they are on assignment.
“When I was briefed about the situation I called the IPO investigating the case involving me, who is the OC Legal of the command, and he insisted that is not about his case and they may not come from the command. He advised us to go to the Divisional Headquarters may be they are on patrol. I also contacted the DSSS if they are looking for me for any reason and wether they dispatched their people to my house, which they denied. While the police officers were making a move to forcefully enter my residence, my son drove out with my car and was chased.
“When he reached Sharada police station to our shock the CRO also maintained that there was no investigation activities reported. I was therefore quickly evacuated with the help of my neighbours, who also feared that it could be an attack rather than law enforcement. It was not until when the PPRO, who initially denied the knowledge of any incident, came out to claim that it was indeed a police operation to serve me with an invitation that we confirmed it was the police.
“Sir, even prior to that day, I spend most of my time outside Kano and when I visit my state, I don’t appear in public gatherings because my adversaries, who control the government in Kano state, will instigate the commissioner of police to act in manner he always do against their perceived opponents.
“It is my submission that what the commissioner of police is doing, most specifically in my own case is an opposite of law enforcement, and preservation of peace and stability in a volatile society like Kano. CP Samaila Dikko’s actions are, to say the leadt, also injurious to the image of the force and capable of causing erosion of public confidence in the police force and the entire system, which will in turn undermine the existing legal order, if allowed unchecked,” the petition read in part.
DEMANDS
Rimingado, therefore, appealed to the authorities to dispassionately take the following actions based on his submission:
1. Cause an investigation to be conducted on the circumstance that led to the siege at his house being a peace loving citizen and who always answer police invitation even through phone calls during weekends, in the night and without following due police protocol. This will prevent criminals from taking advantage of this deviation to perpetrate heinous crime against innocent citizens disguising as law enforcement officers.
2. Since the alleged offence of forgery against me was said to had been committed in Abuja, the appropriate office to handle and investigate or prosecute the matter where necessary is Abuja. And since the Kano State Police Commissioner is not ready to allow due process of law to take its course, “I therefore appeal to your good office and conscience in the interest of justice and equity direct that the investigation against me from Kano be transferred to appropriate formation in Abuja, which is better placed with jurisdiction to try the alleged offence.
“Sir, I once more, appeal to your good office for prompt action on my complaint against unwarranted persecution, harassment, blackmail, intimidation and threats to life.
“I count on your positive intervention, please,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Rimingado had also repoerted a fresh attack on his Sharada residence early Monday (April 11, 2022) morning by suspicious police agents.
According to him, the police commissioner has compromised by carrying out a hatchet job of intimidating him and his family and attempt to arrest him despite a court action and necessary services have been effected on the police.
‘’Look as I speak with you, a case is before a Federal High Court in Kano with a motion for stay of execution on a judgment, and the matter has been adjourned to June 3rd. Similarly, a notice of appeal from the Court of Sppeal has been served on the police. So why the siege on my house and why would the police be acting on a matter that is still before the court,” he asked?
”If for any reason, my attention is needed, why would the police not invite me rather than laying ambush for me and intimidating my family,” he told newsmen who called to confirm the latest incident.
