The National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Kano has refused applications by five former members of the Kano State Executive Council seeking to restrain the state government from retrieving official vehicles allocated to them while in office.

The applications, filed separately but arising from similar facts, were taken together before Justice Mahmood Abba Namtari at the Kano Judicial Division.

In a brief ruling delivered on Monday, Justice Namtari declined to grant the ex parte interim injunctions sought by the former commissioners and directed that the defendants be put on notice.

“The applications for interim orders are refused,” the judge held, ordering that all parties be heard before any decision is taken on the substantive motions.

The matters were subsequently adjourned to March 10, 2026, for further proceedings.

The claimants are Dr Yusuf Ibrahim K/Mata, former Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation; AVM Ibrahim Umar (retd), former Commissioner for Internal Security; Nasir Sule Garo, former Commissioner for Special Duties; Adamu Aliyu Kibiya, former Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation; and Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Commissioner for Youth.

In their suits, the former commissioners listed the Attorney General of Kano State, the Governor of Kano State and the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission as defendants.

Counsel to the applicants, Suraj Sa’ed, SAN, argued that the former commissioners were allocated official vehicles as part of their conditions of service and are entitled to retain them at the end of their tenure in line with convention and the determination of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

He submitted that the purpose of an interim injunction is to preserve the status quo pending the determination of substantive rights and urged the court to grant the reliefs in the interest of justice.

According to affidavits filed in support of the motions, the former commissioners resigned in January 2026 and later received letters from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government directing them to return all official vehicles in their possession.

The Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission also allegedly warned that failure to comply could trigger enforcement measures to recover government property.

The court’s decision to refuse the ex parte applications means the state government is not restrained at this stage, pending the hearing of the motions on notice.

The legal dispute forms part of an ongoing contest between the Kano State Government and the former commissioners over whether they are entitled to retain the vehicles allocated to them during their tenure.