By Olatunbosun Obafemi
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has vowed to challenge a ruling of a Kano High Court that restrained it from further investigating Abdullahi Rogo, Director-General of Protocol at the Kano State Government House, who is facing a multi-billion-naira corruption probe.
Justice Musa Ahmad, in a judgment delivered on August 18, 2025, held that the ICPC’s invitation to Rogo amounted to a breach of his fundamental rights and barred the commission from pursuing further action. The court also awarded Rogo ₦2 million in costs.
But the ICPC insists the decision undermines its statutory powers and shields a powerful state official from accountability. The agency said it would immediately file an appeal once it obtains the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling.
Findings show that Rogo is under joint investigation by the ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly siphoning ₦6.5 billion through fictitious contracts that were never awarded or executed.
According to investigators, the funds were allegedly diverted using bureau de change operators, shell companies, and personal accounts. The ICPC claims it has already recovered over ₦1 billion traced to suspicious accounts and operators linked to the scheme.
On July 2, 2025, the Federal High Court in Kano granted a final forfeiture order, handing the Federal Government control of a portion of the suspected loot. This followed an earlier application by the ICPC in April, when it sought forfeiture of ₦142 million “reasonably suspected to have been acquired illegally.”
After granting interim forfeiture on May 7, the court directed that a notice be published in a national daily, calling on any interested parties to contest the order. With no claimant coming forward, the court ruled that the ₦142 million be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government, affirming that it represented proceeds of corruption linked to Rogo.
