The Kano chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has lodged a complaint with the disciplinary committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) concerning corruption allegations made against the judiciary by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Isa Dederi.
In the petition issued on Sunday by Kano APC Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, the party accused the commissioner of asserting that justices of the Appeal Court are corrupt during a live television program. The letter was addressed to NBA President Yakubu Maikyau and Kano chapter Chairman Sagir Gezawa, with Dederi also copied.
This move comes just 24 hours after a pro-democracy group urged the NBA to address the commissioner’s statements and take appropriate disciplinary measures against any erring members.
Dederi had expressed disappointment with the Appeal Court justices’ handling of the removal of Governor Abba Yusuf during a Channels Television breakfast show. However, Abbas insisted in the petition that Dederi ‘maliciously’ suggested influence on the judges by APC leaders, a claim he deemed far from the truth.
The petition emphasized concerns about the commissioner’s damaging remarks against the judiciary, accusing him of abusing his office as the Attorney General of Kano State. The APC called attention to the gravity of Dederi’s allegations and urged the NBA to address the matter promptly.
