Ex-Kano commissioners drag state govt to court over seized official vehicles

A former member of the Kano State Executive Council, AVM Ibrahim Umar (Retired), has approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Kano Division, on behalf of other affected ex-commissioners over the controversy surrounding the return of official vehicles.

The suit, marked NICN/KN/14/2026, lists AVM Ibrahim Umar (Rtd) as the claimant against the Attorney General of Kano State and two others.

In a related development, counsel to the claimant, Auwal Adam Ibrahim, in a letter dated February 26, 2026, alleged that individuals acting on the instance of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission broke into the residence of the retired Air Vice Marshal and took away his vehicle.

The lawyer stated that the claimant’s family was disturbed during the incident and demanded “the basis of the forced entry, the names and addresses of the persons who broke in,” as well as the return of the vehicle within 48 hours.

The letter was copied to the Attorney General of Kano State for necessary action.

Read Also:Kano anti-graft commission recovers official SUVs from ex-commissioners

SolaceBase recalled that the dispute followed the voluntary resignation of some commissioners shortly after Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s reported defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a letter dated February 16, 2026, referenced SSG/AGS/R/39/T.III, the Office of the Secretary to the State Government directed the affected former commissioners to return official vehicles allocated to them while in office.

Responding in a joint letter dated February 17, 2026, the former commissioners drew attention to provisions of the 2023 Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission Act (as amended), arguing that official vehicles are part of the conditions of service for certain categories of political and public office holders, including members of the State Executive Council.

They maintained that similar privileges had been extended to former members in the past and insisted that their entitlements were validly covered by law.

Earlier, in a press statement signed by AVM Umar Ibrahim (Retired) on behalf of the former commissioners, they accused the state government of adopting a vindictive approach in demanding the return of the vehicles.

The statement alleged trespass and intimidation, claiming that personal vehicles belonging to spouses were evacuated while families were away.

The former commissioners said they sought judicial intervention to ensure that “the rule of law is fully complied with by all and sundry, including those in authority,” urging supporters to remain calm pending the court’s interpretation.

However, a government official dismissed their claim as baseless, stating that the former commissioners have no constitutional right to dictate to the government on what it should do.

The official who wants to remain anonymous explained that in such situations, the government may auction the vehicles to the beneficiaries, release them freely, or demand their return.

According to him, auctioning typically occurs after about four years of use, whereas the vehicles in question were allocated in May 2025, less than one year ago.

On the argument that a former commissioner was previously allowed to retain a vehicle, the official likened the comparison to “a robber caught stealing who complains that others were not arrested,” insisting that past actions do not invalidate the government’s present decision.

The matter is now before the court for determination.