Kano Gov’s Aide Sues APC, Others Over Alleged Diversion Of Palliatives

Chief of Staff to Governor Abba Yusuf, Shehu Sagagi, has taken legal action against the Northern Youth Merger Group, a platform under the All Progressives Congress (APC) over allegations of diversion of palliatives levelled against him.

Sagagi, a chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) also dragged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Kano State  Police Commissioner and one Hon. Musa Mujahid Zaitawa before the Kano State High Court.

The APC youth group had filed a petition before the EFCC accusing Sagagi of diversion of federal government palliative rice to an Islamic Centre thereby discrediting the reputation of the chief of staff to Governor Yusuf.

Sagagi had earlier dismissed the allegation, describing it as misleading and politically motivated by the APC in their desperate attempt to malign his personality and that of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) administration.

The Kano-born politician reiterated that his office had never been involved in palliatives distribution and no one has ever allocated the palliatives to him for onward distribution to state, local governments or wards.

Sagagi added that the NNPP-led state government has been transparent in its distribution of palliatives to the masses, with clear records of beneficiaries and distribution channels, adding that the allegation is a falsehood lacking all symptoms of fact.

According to Wada Sagagi, the APC is bent at his personality are unfounded and lack concrete evidence as he pointed out that such frivolous rantings are mere allegations designed to score cheap political stunt.

In an order granted by Justice Aisha Ya’u of the state high court, Sagagi secured the nod of the court, restraining the EFCC and the Commissioner of Police from arresting, intimidating or harassing him pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice filed against the four respondents.

The exparte order granted on August 15 read, “ Upon reading motion exparte together with the accompanying affidavit in support dated August 12, 2024 , duly deposed by Jennifer Jediel, an order hereby granted.

“An interim injunction is granted restraining the respondents, particularly the EFCC and the Commissioner of Police by themselves, servants, agents, privies or whosoever and howsoever deriving authority from them from arresting, harassing, molesting and/ or detaining the applicant, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice”.

The case was then adjourned to September 3, 2024 for hearing.