Court declines request to halt Kano deputy governor impeachment case, directing proper service of processes in ongoing legal dispute

A Federal High Court sitting in Nigeria on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, declined an urgent application seeking to halt the impeachment process initiated against Kano State Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo by the State House of Assembly, in a ruling that reinforces the procedural limits of interim judicial intervention.

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Justice S.M. Shaibu, who delivered the ruling, held that the applicant failed to satisfy the legal requirements necessary for the grant of an ex parte order, noting that the request was filed without hearing from the respondents involved in the matter.

The court emphasised the importance of due process in the Kano deputy governor impeachment case, directing that all relevant court documents be properly served on the respondents to allow them adequate opportunity to respond to the allegations and applications before the court.

The decision means that the impeachment process initiated by the Kano State House of Assembly may proceed, at least temporarily, while the substantive issues raised in the suit are considered in line with constitutional provisions.

In a related development, the court noted that the State House of Assembly had previously obtained an interim order restraining the deputy governor from taking actions that could interfere with its constitutional responsibilities under Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The overlapping legal actions highlight the growing tension between executive and legislative interests in Kano State, with the judiciary now positioned as the arbiter of the dispute.

Legal observers say the case underscores the strict thresholds required for urgent court interventions, particularly in politically sensitive matters involving impeachment proceedings.

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The Kano deputy governor impeachment case is expected to return to court in the coming days as both parties prepare to regularise service and advance their arguments.