Kano University Secures Court Shield Against Anti-Graft Agency Probe

The Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (MAAUN) has successfully obtained a temporary restraining order from a Kano High Court, halting all investigative actions and interference by the state’s anti-graft body and other government agencies. This decisive judicial action, issued by Justice Sanusi Ado Ma’aji, provides the university with immediate reprieve from the scrutiny of the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) and several other key state actors. The order follows an ex parte motion initiated by MAAUN’s management, marking a significant pushback against regulatory oversight perceived as interference.

The legal action targets a broad coalition of respondents, underscoring the severity and breadth of the institutional challenge faced by the university. Those named in the suit include the powerful Kano State Government, the PCACC, the state legislative body—the Kano State House of Assembly—the state Attorney-General, and a group identified simply as “concerned parents.” By listing such a diverse set of respondents, MAAUN’s management has framed the issue as a challenge to the collective actions of the state’s executive, legislative, and anti-corruption arms, alongside private complainants.

Justice Ma’aji’s ruling, dated December 11, 2025, is explicit and comprehensive. It restrains all the aforementioned respondents, and anyone acting on their behalf, from inviting officials of the university for questioning or intervening in any of its academic or administrative functions. This injunction will remain active until the substantive lawsuit, which seeks a permanent resolution, is fully heard and determined. Critically, the court also issued a directive compelling all parties to strictly maintain the existing status quo between MAAUN (the applicant) and the first respondent until the originating summons is finally disposed of. This maintenance of the existing situation is a crucial legal maneuver designed to prevent any party from escalating the conflict or taking irreversible actions while the matter is sub judice.

The university’s counsel, Zahraddeen M. Bello, hailed the court’s decision as a victory for due process and the rule of law. Speaking shortly after the ruling, Bello emphasized that the judicial intervention reaffirmed the importance of following established legal procedures. He assured the public and stakeholders that MAAUN would continue its operations and academic calendar strictly within the bounds of the law while the underlying matter remains before the court. His comments signal the university’s commitment to operating transparently but on its own terms, rejecting external interference not sanctioned by a final judicial review.

In a procedural move to ensure the matter progresses smoothly, the court granted MAAUN permission to effect service of the court processes on the fifth respondent—the concerned parents—at their specified office located at No. 224, Sabo Bakin Zuwo, Kano. This ensures all named parties are formally aware of the ongoing legal proceedings and their obligations under the interim order.

The case has been adjourned to December 29, 2025, for further hearing. This upcoming date is expected to shed more light on the substantive claims put forward by the university and the defenses to be mounted by the state agencies. The interim order itself, sealed and endorsed by the presiding judge and the Principal Registrar, carries the full weight of the court. This legal battle sets a critical precedent for institutional autonomy in the Nigerian educational sector, particularly concerning the extent of anti-corruption agencies’ jurisdiction over the internal affairs of private universities. The final judgment will inevitably impact the balance of power between private institutions and state regulatory bodies in Kano and potentially across the country.