The Kano State High Court (Court 2), presided over by Justice Yusuf Muhammad Ubale, has fixed Monday, 27 April 2026, for the hearing of a suit challenging the refusal of Kano State Commissioner of Works and Housing to release public information on constituency projects.
The case, marked KM/5023/2025: Comr. Umar Ibrahim Umar v. Commissioner of Works and Housing, Kano State, was instituted following the failure of the Commissioner to respond to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by Kano-based Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Activist, and Executive Director of War Against Injustice, Umar Ibrahim Umar.
The suit seeks the enforcement of the FOI Act to compel the disclosure of details of constituency projects in Kano State, in order to promote transparency, accountability and enable journalists, civil society organisations and citizens to effectively monitor public expenditure.
However, in a development that has attracted widespread public criticism, the plaintiff through his legal team received a response from the Commissioner on 20 April 2026, demanding the sum of ₦100 million as a “processing fee” for the requested information.
According to a statement on Saturday by the Human Rights and Anti-corruption Activist, Umar Ibrahim Umar, the matter will be heard at the Kano State High Court, Audu Bako Secretariat on Monday.
“The matter will be heard at the Kano State High Court, Audu Bako Secretariat, where all necessary court processes, including hearing notice and motion on Notice, have already been duly served on the Commissioner,” the statement said.
It explained that the issue stemmed from a formal request submitted on October 10, 2025, seeking details of constituency projects in Kano State.
“The Public, Media and Civil society organisations are encouraged to follow proceedings closely, as the case raises critical questions about access to public information, transparency and the rule of law,” the statement added.
Recall that the Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Activist, and Executive Director of War Against Injustice, Umar Ibrahim Umar had dragged the Kano State Commissioner for Works, Engr. Marwan Ahmed, to court over alleged demand for N100 million “precessing fee” before giving the information, describing it as unlawful, excessive, and a direct assault on the FOI Act.
