A Federal High Court sitting in Kano State has issued an interim injunction restraining the Jigawa State Government from taking any further steps in the investigation of alleged misappropriation of funds in the COVID-19 Economic Recovery and Stimulation Program (J-CARES) Result Area II under FADAMA funds.

The court granted the injunction in a suit filed by the former Coordinator of FADAMA III in Jigawa State, Aminu Isa Ringim, challenging the process followed by the committee set up by the government to review the implementation of the J-CARES FADAMA intervention in the state.

Aminu Ringim prayed the court to restrain the state government from using the reports until he was given a fair hearing.

In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Isa Liman, issued an interim injunction restraining the defendant/respondent in the case from publishing, gazetting, taking any action, or extracting a “White Paper” from the committee report.

The judge stated that the restrictions shall be complied with until the determination of the court regarding the fair hearing and other concerns expressed by the complainant.

It could be recalled that the state governor, Malam Umar Namadi, had suspended the state Fadama project coordinator and ordered a full investigation into the implementation of the J-CARES FADAMA intervention regarding the alleged misappropriation of funds allocated to the sector.

The Jigawa state Attorney General, Barrister Bello Abdulkadir Fanini, stated that they have not yet received the interim injunction, which has a one-week lifespan. As soon as they receive it, they will study it and respond accordingly.