The National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in the Kano Judicial Division has rejected an attempt by former members of the Kano State Executive Council to prevent the state government from retrieving official vehicles assigned to them while they were in office.
In a ruling delivered on Monday, Justice Mahmood Abba Namtari declined to grant the ex-parte applications filed by the former commissioners.
Instead, the court directed that the defendants be formally notified so all parties can present their arguments before any interim orders are considered.
The legal action was brought by several former commissioners, including Yusuf Kofar-Mata, Ibrahim Umar, Nasir Garo, Adamu Aliyu Kibiya and Mustapha Kwankwaso.
They filed the applications against the Kano State Government, the state Attorney General and the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission.
The applicants asked the court to issue interim injunctions preventing the state government from retrieving official vehicles allocated to them during their time in office.
According to their legal team, the vehicles formed part of their conditions of service when they were appointed into the state executive council.
The former officials argued that established conventions and determinations by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission allow commissioners to retain such vehicles after completing their tenure.
Court documents revealed that the former commissioners resigned from their positions in January 2026.
Shortly after their resignation, the Office of the Secretary to the State Government reportedly sent letters directing them to return all official vehicles in their possession.
In addition, the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission allegedly warned that enforcement measures could be taken to recover government property if the vehicles were not returned.
However, Justice Namtari ruled that the interim orders requested by the applicants could not be granted at this stage.
The court emphasized the need to hear from all parties involved before making any temporary ruling that could affect the dispute.
The legal battle over the retrieval of official government vehicles in Kano State is expected to continue when the case resumes on March 10, 2026, when the court will consider the substantive applications.
