A High Court in Kano State has issued a restraining order against the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the State Security Service (SSS), and other security agencies, barring them from arresting Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, the Director General of Media and Publicity to Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf.
The ex-parte order, granted on December 12, 2024, shields Mr. Dawakin-Tofa from what his legal team described as “harassment and intimidation” following allegations by Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
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Ganduje accused Mr. Dawakin-Tofa of orchestrating his suspension at the ward level in their local government six months ago. The restraining directive, contained in suit No. K/M2500/2024, also extends to the AIG Zone 1, Kano State Commissioner of Police, and SP Mojirade Obisiji.
The court ruled that no action should be taken to infringe on Mr. Dawakin-Tofa’s fundamental rights to liberty, dignity, and freedom of movement.
The conflict stems from a petition filed by Ganduje to the IGP, alleging that Mr. Dawakin-Tofa and the NNPP-led Kano State Government conspired to suspend him, aiming to weaken his political influence. Acting on the petition, the IGP had summoned Mr. Dawakin-Tofa and APC ward executives to Abuja over allegations of conspiracy and actions likely to breach public peace.
In response, Mr. Dawakin-Tofa’s legal team, led by Barr. Haruna Musa Muhammad, filed a lawsuit challenging the summons, describing it as a politically driven move to tarnish his reputation.
The court further directed that legal documents be served to the respondents, including APC and senior police officers, through special bailiffs.
The feud between Ganduje and Mr. Dawakin-Tofa dates back to 2015, when Ganduje, then governor-elect, reportedly ordered Mr. Dawakin-Tofa’s arrest due to his political opposition. This latest dispute has deepened the political tension between Governor Yusuf and Ganduje, two of Kano’s prominent political figures.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that a team of 40 police officers from the IGP Monitoring Unit was mobilized to Kano to arrest Mr. Dawakin-Tofa after he declined the summons to Abuja.
Efforts to contact the National Police Spokesperson were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages went unanswered. Similarly, Mr. Dawakin-Tofa refused to comment, stating that the matter is already before the court.
The case has been adjourned to January 22, 2025, for the next hearing.
