Gambo Abubakar Kaduna
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has suspended the Chairman of Board of Trustees, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, and ordered a forensic audit of the forum’s finances following allegations of misappropriation and breach of due process.
The decision was reached during the emergency NEC meeting held at Nigerian Teachers Institute conference hall, in Kaduna .
After Nigerian police barricaded the forum’s office which situated at Sokoto Road, Unguwar Rimi Kaduna, forcing members to relocate to an alternative venue.
While addressing the newsmen’s, Professor Tukur Mohamed Baba, ACF National Publicity Secretary and member of both the National Executive and Working Committees, said the meeting proceeded despite the blockade.
He also explained that the police action, reportedly carried out on “orders from the top,” prevented staff and delegates from accessing the original venue, with workers chased out early in the morning. The NEC condemned the disruption but said it had successfully covered its agenda.
The NEC passed a vote of no confidence on Alhaji Dalhatu after the forum’s Ethics and Conduct Committee submitted preliminary findings showing evidence of financial misconduct and non-compliance with ACF constitutional provisions.
Professor Baba however said, “the BOT chairman was invited to respond to the petition but failed to avail himself of the opportunity, prompting the committee to recommend his suspension.
In addition to the suspension, the NEC directed an immediate forensic audit of all ACF finances, not limited to the endowment fund, to determine whether funds had been properly utilized in line with the forum’s constitution.
The committee further resolved to secure open-ended access to all financial records and to pursue the recovery of any funds found to have been misapplied.
While reaffirming that the action was “preservative, not punitive,” Prof. Baba said the NEC passed a vote of confidence on the National Working Committee under Chairman Mamma Mike Ousmane and on the Secretary General’s performance.
He stressed that any future leadership changes would strictly follow constitutional provisions. The NEC also rejected claims of a leadership crisis, describing the situation as an “attempted misinterpretation and usurpation of power outside the ACF constitution.”
Also speaking, Professor Nuhu Muhammad Jamu, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Committee of the forum, said the panel acted within time constraints to allow the BOT chairman an opportunity to respond within 48 hours, but received no reply.
According to Professor Jamu, the committee’s findings revealed violations of the forum’s constitution, particularly in the delineation of authority between the Board of Trustees, the National Executive Council and the National Working Committee.
He cited an instance where the BOT chairman allegedly cancelled a meeting convened by the forum chairman despite lacking constitutional backing, unlike the notice issued by the forum chairman.
The committee also flagged concerns over membership irregularities, stating that some individuals who participated in proceedings were not duly registered members of the forum, thereby undermining the validity of decisions taken.
“More critically, it raised questions over financial management, noting that the BOT chairman had made himself a signatory to the forum’s endowment fund and allegedly directed lower-ranking officers, contrary to the supervisory and advisory role expected of trustees,” Prof. Jamu said.
He added that the handling of the endowment fund, established to promote the forum’s objectives, was troubling, especially with reported movements of funds without proper oversight.
Prof. Jamu reaffirmed that the recommendations were aimed at upholding transparency and integrity within the forum as it prepares for its constitutional activities ahead of the 2027 general election
By Gambo Abubakar Kaduna
ACF Saga; NEC Suspended BOT Chairman Bashir Dalhatu, Retains Secretary
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has suspended the Chairman of Board of Trustees, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, and ordered a forensic audit of the forum’s finances following allegations of misappropriation and breach of due process.
The decision was reached during the emergency NEC meeting held at Nigerian Teachers Institute conference hall, in Kaduna .
After Nigerian police barricaded the forum’s office which situated at Sokoto Road, Unguwar Rimi Kaduna, forcing members to relocate to an alternative venue.
While addressing the newsmen’s, Professor Tukur Mohamed Baba, ACF National Publicity Secretary and member of both the National Executive and Working Committees, said the meeting proceeded despite the blockade.
He also explained that the police action, reportedly carried out on “orders from the top,” prevented staff and delegates from accessing the original venue, with workers chased out early in the morning. The NEC condemned the disruption but said it had successfully covered its agenda.
The NEC passed a vote of no confidence on Alhaji Dalhatu after the forum’s Ethics and Conduct Committee submitted preliminary findings showing evidence of financial misconduct and non-compliance with ACF constitutional provisions.
Professor Baba however said, “the BOT chairman was invited to respond to the petition but failed to avail himself of the opportunity, prompting the committee to recommend his suspension.
In addition to the suspension, the NEC directed an immediate forensic audit of all ACF finances, not limited to the endowment fund, to determine whether funds had been properly utilized in line with the forum’s constitution.
The committee further resolved to secure open-ended access to all financial records and to pursue the recovery of any funds found to have been misapplied.
While reaffirming that the action was “preservative, not punitive,” Prof. Baba said the NEC passed a vote of confidence on the National Working Committee under Chairman Mamma Mike Ousmane and on the Secretary General’s performance.
He stressed that any future leadership changes would strictly follow constitutional provisions. The NEC also rejected claims of a leadership crisis, describing the situation as an “attempted misinterpretation and usurpation of power outside the ACF constitution.”
Also speaking, Professor Nuhu Muhammad Jamu, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Committee of the forum, said the panel acted within time constraints to allow the BOT chairman an opportunity to respond within 48 hours, but received no reply.
According to Professor Jamu, the committee’s findings revealed violations of the forum’s constitution, particularly in the delineation of authority between the Board of Trustees, the National Executive Council and the National Working Committee.
He cited an instance where the BOT chairman allegedly cancelled a meeting convened by the forum chairman despite lacking constitutional backing, unlike the notice issued by the forum chairman.
The committee also flagged concerns over membership irregularities, stating that some individuals who participated in proceedings were not duly registered members of the forum, thereby undermining the validity of decisions taken.
“More critically, it raised questions over financial management, noting that the BOT chairman had made himself a signatory to the forum’s endowment fund and allegedly directed lower-ranking officers, contrary to the supervisory and advisory role expected of trustees,” Prof. Jamu said.
He added that the handling of the endowment fund, established to promote the forum’s objectives, was troubling, especially with reported movements of funds without proper oversight.
Prof. Jamu reaffirmed that the recommendations were aimed at upholding transparency and integrity within the forum as it prepares for its constitutional activities ahead of the 2027 general election
