The chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu has been suspended following an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Kaduna, Wednesday.
The suspension was confirmed by ACF National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammed-Baba, while answering questions from journalists, saying the Council passed a vote of no confidence on Dalhatu, citing findings from a preliminary investigation into alleged misconduct and financial irregularities.
The meeting was initially scheduled to take place at the Forum’s headquarters at No. 11A Sokoto Road, Kaduna, but was disrupted after security operatives barricaded the premises and adjoining roads.
According to Muhammed-Baba, staff and delegates were denied access to the venue, forcing the Forum to relocate and convene at an alternative location within the city.
He described the police action as unjustified, stressing that the meeting had been duly convened and posed no threat to public peace.
Despite the disruption, delegates from 18 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory attended the rescheduled session, where the NEC deliberated on internal matters and reaffirmed confidence in the Forum’s National Working Committee.
Muhammed-Baba dismissed claims of a leadership crisis within the ACF, attributing the tensions to attempts to misinterpret and usurp constitutional powers within the organisation.
A key item on the agenda was a petition alleging financial and administrative misconduct within the Forum.
He disclosed that the petition had been referred to the Ethics and Conduct Committee, which carried out a preliminary review and identified issues requiring further investigation.
Based on the committee’s recommendations, the NEC approved the immediate suspension of the BoT chairman to allow for a full and unhindered probe.
The Council also ordered a comprehensive forensic audit of all ACF finances, including its endowment fund, with a mandate to recover any misapplied resources.
“The action is not punitive but preservative,” Muhammed-Baba said the Forum would ensure full access to financial records while safeguarding its institutional integrity.
Also speaking, Chairman of the ACF Ethics and Conduct Committee, Professor Nuhu Muhammad Jamo, said the panel found several instances where the BoT chairman’s actions conflicted with the Forum’s constitution.
Jamo cited cases of alleged overreach, including attempts to cancel duly convened meetings and involvement in operational and financial decisions beyond the advisory scope of the BoT.
He further pointed to irregularities in membership participation, noting that individuals without verified membership status took part in certain proceedings, potentially undermining the legitimacy of decisions reached.
On financial matters, Jamo raised concerns over the handling of the Forum’s funds, including the movement of resources across accounts and the BoT chairman’s role as a signatory.
He said the committee recommended the suspension to ensure a fair and transparent investigation, stressing that due process and the principles of natural justice would be strictly upheld.
The NEC also condemned the police siege on its premises, describing it as an infringement on the Forum’s right to lawful assembly.
The ACF said it would communicate its resolutions to relevant institutions, including financial bodies, as it moves to audit its accounts and address the issues raised.
