A Kano State High Court has issued a restraining order against the Nigerian Police Force and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), preventing them from detaining or arresting Kafanchan-based farmer Ali Haruna Abbah over a business dispute with his Indian partner, Sajith Madhu.
Justice Fatima Adamu, who presided over the court sitting on Miller Road, Kano, granted Abbah's request to join the Nigerian Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, and the Commissioner of the Police Force Intelligence Department as the fourth to sixth respondents in the ongoing suit.
According to court documents reviewed by BenriNews on Tuesday, the judge granted the relief on June 5, following an ex parte motion filed by the applicant through his legal counsel, Tijjani Abdulkareem Abdullahi.
The court ordered all parties in the suit, numbered K/M1156/2025, to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application.
Legal Proceedings and Previous Rulings
The ex parte application, dated May 30, was supported by a five-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Abdullahi Garba, a litigation secretary in the law firm of Ibrahim Cheid & Co., along with a written address in support.
In her ruling, Justice Adamu stated: "That leave is granted to the applicant seeking to join the Nigeria Police Force, Inspector General of Police and Commissioner of Police Force Intelligence Department as respondents in this suit."
She further ordered: "An order is granted to the applicant to join the Nigeria Police Force, Inspector General of Police, and Commissioner of Police Force Intelligence Department as 4th, 5th & 6th respondents in this suit. An order is granted to the applicant directing all the parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application."
The case has been adjourned until July 9, 2025, for hearing.
Background of the Dispute
BenriNews recalls that on December 30 last year, the court had also restrained EFCC from arresting and prosecuting Mr. Abbah. In that ruling, delivered by the vacation court presided over by Jamilu Suleiman, the court restrained the anti-graft agency from "either by themselves, their agents, servants, or privies, however described, from any act(s) of arresting and/or detaining the applicant pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application."
The order of interim injunction granted to the applicant also restrained the respondents from "any act(s) of interference with the applicant's business transaction with the 1st respondent in respect of ginger products pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application."
The suit stems from a business transaction dispute between Mr. Abbah and Mr. Madhu and his company, Nostro Trading Company. Abbah had accused his estranged business partner of using security forces to threaten, harass, intimidate, and blackmail him.
As of the time of filing this report, EFCC, Police, and Mr. Madhu have yet to respond to enquiries regarding the case.
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