The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has recovered official vehicles from commissioners who voluntarily resigned from the state executive council.

The recovery exercise, carried out by operatives of the commission on Thursday, followed the alleged continued refusal of the affected commissioners to return the government property.

The concerned persons are Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Umar (retd), former Commissioner for Internal Security; Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Commissioner for Youth and Sports; Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim Kofar Mata, former Commissioner for Science and Technology; Dr. Adamu Aliyu Kibiya, former Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs; and Hon. Nasiru Sani Garo, former Commissioner for Special Projects.

Briefing journalists shortly after the recovery exercise, the Chairman of the Commission, Sa’idu Yahaya, who led the operation, said the action became necessary after the former commissioners failed to comply with repeated official requests to return government assets.

Yahaya disclosed that the operation was prompted by formal complaints and notification from the Office of the Secretary to the Kano State Government, being the custodian of all government vehicles,
regarding alleged abuse of office and the urgent need for the former officials to return all government property in their possession upon resignation.

The chairman further alleged that some of the commissioners said to have sold the official vehicles shortly after leaving office.

“Government assets are not personal property. Once an official leaves office, all government vehicles and assets in their custody must be returned immediately.

“They were advised to return the vehicles to avoid a situation like this, but they refused, leaving us with no alternative but to take action. We followed due process and secured a court order, which was duly granted, to recover the vehicles.”

He added, “So far, we have recovered five vehicles from the five commissioners. However, only two of the vehicles recovered are the exact official vehicles purchased by the government. The other three are not the original vehicles.

“Investigation revealed that the official vehicles had been sold and replaced with other vehicles, which we also recovered. We will launch a full scale investigation to determine whether the official vehicles were sold to procure these ones or otherwise,” Yahaya said.

The anti-corruption boss dismissed suggestions that the action was politically motivated, insisting that the commission’s intervention was strictly in line with its statutory responsibility to safeguard public property.

“This is not about witch-hunting anyone. It is about protecting the resources of the people of Kano State. We will not tolerate any form of misconduct or unlawful retention of government property,” he said.

He further warned that the commission would sustain surveillance on the use and custody of public assets, stressing that similar measures would be taken against any official found to be in breach of asset return regulations.

“Public trust depends on transparency and accountability. We are determined to strengthen both, and we will take appropriate action against anyone found mismanaging or unlawfully holding government property,” Yahaya added.

Meanwhile, a retired senior civil servant, Mohammad Tukur, clarified the administrative position on the matter, stating that no existing law permits a commissioner to retain an official vehicle after serving in the cabinet.

Tukur explained that government policy provides official vehicles to commissioners solely to enable them carry out their official duties.

“No law guarantees commissioners the right to keep government vehicles at the end of a successful tenure, whether they are sacked or resign from office,” he said.

He, however, noted that the governor reserves the executive power and discretion to permit any official to retain a vehicle after leaving office.

“Under administrative policy, what commissioners are entitled to upon leaving office are certain allowances, not official vehicles. Even then, any commissioner who is sacked or resigns from the cabinet may not be entitled to those severance packages,” Tukur explained.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed January 16, 2027, as the new date for the presidential and national assembly elections.

The commission also fixed February 6, 2027, as the date for governorship and state houses of assembly election.

Mohammed Haruna, national commissioner and chairman, information and voter education committee, announced the new election timetable in a statement issued on Thursday.

The electoral body had earlier fixed February 20, 2027, for the presidential and national assembly elections and March 6, 2027, for the governorship and state houses of assembly elections but was forced to review the schedule following the repeal of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the enactment of the Electoral Act, 2026.

The Kano State Government has strongly rejected allegations made by Amnesty International in its recent publication titled “Kano: Escalating Repression Endangers Freedom of Expression.” The report accused security agencies of arresting, detaining, and harassing individuals critical of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, on February 25, 2026, the government described the claims as “misleading, unfounded, and a gross misrepresentation of facts.”

According to Waiya, the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf remains committed to protecting fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression as guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution. He stressed that at no time has the government directed security agencies to target or intimidate individuals for expressing dissenting opinions.

The Commissioner noted that while freedom of expression is constitutionally protected, it is not absolute. He explained that the law also safeguards the rights and dignity of others, adding that libel, slander, defamation, hate speech, incitement, and deliberate misinformation fall outside the boundaries of free speech. “No democratic society permits the weaponization of social media to spread malicious falsehoods or content capable of breaching public peace,” Waiya said.

Waiya further emphasized that security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), operate strictly within their statutory mandates. He clarified that arrests or invitations are based on petitions or credible allegations of wrongdoing, such as cyberbullying, defamation, or incitement. He insisted that the Kano State Government does not control or micromanage federal security agencies but supports lawful measures to curb cybercrime.

The statement also lamented the misuse of social media platforms by some individuals under the guise of civic liberty. Waiya argued that such practices encourage misinformation and personal attacks that undermine healthy democratic engagement. He maintained that the government has a responsibility to ensure digital spaces do not become breeding grounds for disorder or reputational damage.

Highlighting the administration’s record, Waiya said Governor Yusuf’s government has been recognized as one of the most media- and civil society–friendly in Nigeria. He pointed to the adoption of the Open Government Partnership initiative, which promotes citizen participation in governance. “This development has significantly recorded the highest civic engagements in the history of Kano,” he stated.

The Commissioner also cited Governor Yusuf’s precedent-setting decision to pay gratuities and entitlements to opposition members, describing it as evidence of tolerance and inclusivity. He reiterated that citizens are free to express opinions without harassment, but cautioned that criticism must not cross into defamation or incitement.

Waiya stressed that the government does not target social media influencers or political opponents. He urged organizations and commentators to verify facts before making sweeping conclusions that could undermine state authority or create unnecessary tension.

He said, the Kano State Government is committed to democratic values, rule of law, and peaceful coexistence. “This administration will continue to uphold justice, fairness, and respect for constitutional rights while ensuring those rights are exercised responsibly,”