A Kano base advocacy group War Against Injustice (WAI) has issued a strongly worded demand to the Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, calling for the immediate withdrawal of all bogus charges filed against over 20 residents who were allegedly arrested under non-existent laws.
In a letter signed by the organisation’s Executive Director, Comr. Umar Ibrahim Umar, WAI condemned what it described as a troubling rise in unlawful arrests, illegal confiscation of citizens’ property and malicious prosecutions carried out by security operatives in the state.
According to the organisation, operatives of the Hotoro Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force allegedly arrested the victims, impounded their motorcycles without legal basis, and charged them before the Gyadi-Gyadi Magistrate Court under the so-called “Kano State Motorcycle Act” and “Kano State Government Rules.”
But WAI insists that no such law exists. The group emphasised that Kano State has no legal authority to enact “Acts”, as only the National Assembly can enact Acts of Parliament.
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The arrests, WAI noted, violate Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution, which explicitly prohibits punishing any person for an offence not defined in a written law. They also cited the landmark court decision Aoko v. Fagbemi, which reinforces that no Nigerian can be punished for an act not criminalised by law.
War Against Injustice further condemned the involvement of State Counsel who allegedly prosecuted citizens under the non-existent law, describing the action as: unprofessional, unconstitutional and damaging to public trust in the judiciary
The group also criticised the confiscation of the victims’ motorcycles, saying such action amounts to punishment before conviction, a violation of fundamental rights to liberty, movement, and property ownership.
In its letter, WAI urged the Attorney General to take urgent corrective action and demands for immediate withdrawal of all charges filed under non-existent laws, unconditional release of all impounded motorcycles, a public apology to the victims.
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They also demands payment of ₦10 million compensation to each affected citizen in accordance with Section 35(6) of the Constitution as well as taking disciplinary action against Police officers and State Counsel involved in the alleged violations
The organisation praised the Honourable Attorney General for his past defence of constitutional rights — particularly his intervention during the unlawful arrest of Barr. Muhuyi Magaji — and urged him to once again uphold justice and rein in what it described as growing impunity within the state.
War Against Injustice reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights of everyday citizens and ensuring that no individual in Kano State is subjected to unlawful arrest, detention or malicious prosecution.
The group warned that it will not relent until justice is served and constitutional order restored.