A Kano-based legal practitioner, Barrister A.S. Bawa, has petitioned the Kano State Commissioner of Police, accusing one Abdulwahab Abdullahi and other officers of the Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) of alleged theft of N950,000, unlawful seizure of wristwatches, criminal intimidation, and unlawful assault against him while he was performing his lawful duties.

The lawyer, through his ten legal representatives led by Barrister Fengak Obadiah Gokir submitted the petition to the Kano State Commissioner of Police

The Petition similarly copied to Attorney General Kano State, the Chairman Nigeria Bar Association Kano Branch, the Managing Director, Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA)
Kano State and the Director Center for Human Rights and Social Advancement
(CEFSAN)

Details of the petition:

Our client is a Legal Practitioner carrying on the practice of law within the Kano State and beyond. As a practicing legal practitioner, our client is imbued with the knowledge of the relevant laws of Kano State and beyond and has always been mindful of obeying them so as not to send a negative signal to people who barely have the knowledge of the law.

The instruction of our client reveals that about 2 days ago (Monday, 18th August, 2025 to be precise), while going about his lawful activities in company of one Mal. Awalu, he drove his car (Silver coloured Toyota Yaris, 2005 model) towards Railway by Murtala Mohammed Way, Kano to purchase some woods. While around that location, our client knowing fully well how reckless some motorist can be, carefully parked his car by the road side at a reasonable parking lane in an orderly manner so as to avoid unnecessary bashing of the car and to avoid causing traffic related issues to other road users. Enclosed in the car was the sum of N950,000.00 (Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) and two (2) Wrist watches (the more concern one Patek Philippe) that was gifted to our client by One Late Prince Issa Idris Yaro and some extra money for the purchase in the event that he might run short of money for the day’s purchases and this was the money he withdrew not long ago from his Guaranty Trust Bank account last week and this week respectively.

However, upon conclusion of the wood transaction, our client became seriously shocked, alarmed and gripped with fear when he noticed his car was no longer at the location he parked. It was at that moment that people around told him that the car had been burgled and forcefully taken away by men of the KAROTA. Our client therefore made effort to know the office the car was taken to and it was then that he was informed that the car was taken to KAROTA Office along Gidan Awaki by Club Road, Kano State.

Our client immediately approached KAROTA office and to his greatest surprise again, found his car already burgled and tempered with, the sum of N950,000.00 (Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) missing and the bumper damaged due to the fact that the car was forcefully dragged.

He approached the officers on duty, to find out why his car was burgled into, driven to KAROTA office and illegally impounded or detained but unfortunately, he was threatened, bashed and ordered out of their premises under the instruction of one Abdulwahab Abdullahi, the Incharge of that Complex. In other words, when our client approached the officers of KAROTA on duty, the said officers became violent, assaulted him and threatened to kill him if he does not vacate their premises. That was how our client was public embarrassed notwithstanding the fact that he is a lawyer with high reputation to protect. Sir, our client is a law abiding and peaceful citizen of Nigeria and an indigene of Kano State as well as a Legal Practitioner with versatile experience in legal practice and would not take laws into his hands.

We believe as lawyers that the conduct of Kano Road Traffic Agency and its officers, to wit Abdulwahab Abdulahi (the Incharge of Gidan Awaki by Club Road) & other officers on duty on Monday, 18th August 2025 is manifestly outside the precincts of law. It was a calculated attempt to deliberate make wrongful gains and overreach our client which the law will never support. No wonder, within a twinkle of an eye without waiting for our client to return before making any case against him, they immediately burgled, toed the car and made away with the sum of N950,000.00 (Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira). Sir these series of action clearly reveal the commission of the offences of threat to life and property, theft, criminal trespass, unlawful seizure, criminal intimidation and unlawful assault against our client as they do not have the power under the law creating them to do what they have done.

It is in the light of the above that we therefore write this petition to you, praying that you use your good office in causing an intense investigation as empowered by law into the unlawful and illegal actions or activities of these men and their colleagues on duty whose activities overreached the legal rights of our client.

We appreciate your invaluable contribution in the sustenance of law, order, peace, security and combatting crimes even as we believe that by your prompt intervention, our client will have respite.
It is our hope that our request will be given urgent attention given the good track record of your office.
Be assured of our professional regards.
Yours faithfully,

However, when contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA), Abubakar Ibrahim, said the agency had not received any petition related to the incident.

He added, “I am not aware of this information, so I am unable to comment on it.”