Court rejects bid to halt Kano deputy governor’s impeachment process

A Federal High Court has declined a request by Kano State Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo to temporarily stop impeachment proceedings initiated against him by the Kano State House of Assembly.

Delivering the ruling on March 25, 2026, Justice S.M. Shaibu held that the deputy governor failed to meet the legal requirements necessary for the court to grant an ex parte order—an urgent directive issued without hearing from all parties involved.

The court noted that the application did not satisfy the conditions required to justify restraining the legislative process at this stage.

Justice Shaibu also ordered Gwarzo to ensure that all relevant legal documents are properly served on the respondents, allowing them the opportunity to respond to the case before further proceedings continue.

The ruling comes as the Kano State House of Assembly had earlier secured its own interim court order on March 11, 2026, aimed at restraining the deputy governor from taking any actions that could obstruct the Assembly’s constitutional responsibilities.

The Assembly’s order references its powers under Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which outlines the legal framework for the impeachment of a deputy governor in Nigeria.

The legal dispute underscores the escalating political and constitutional tension surrounding the impeachment process, which remains subject to further court hearings and determinations.