Kano govt breaks silence on alleged N6.5bn scandal

The Kano State Government has responded to allegations of a N6.5 billion diversion linked to the Director General of the Protocol Directorate at the Government House, Alhaji Abdullahi Rogo.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director General of Media and Publicity, Comrade Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the government described the reports as “false narratives” aimed at discrediting its key officials.

It would be recalled that a coalition of 20 civil society organisations in Kano had earlier called for the suspension and prosecution of government officials allegedly linked to corruption cases worth over ₦7 billion, which are under investigation by the EFCC and ICPC.

According to DawakinTofa, the online publications that circulated the allegations, particularly a report dated August 22, 2025, were “ill-intended and politically motivated.” He stressed that the Protocol Office is not an independent spending unit and does not control funds outside approved government procedures.

“For clarity, the Office of Protocol in any government is purely administrative. It coordinates state visits, receptions, ceremonial events, and logistics. Every financial transaction is conducted within established rules and budgetary approval,” the statement read.

The media aide maintained that the alleged misappropriation, which is already before a High Court, should not be used to smear the integrity of the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

He explained that the Directorate of Protocol is tasked with providing logistics and welfare for the Governor’s domestic and international engagements, as well as catering for visiting dignitaries, including ministers, foreign envoys, and ordinary citizens who attract the Governor’s attention.

“Over 95 per cent of the Directorate’s responsibilities involve financial transactions, usually tied to state obligations at the instance of His Excellency. No individual in government handles public funds without clear budgetary purposes,” DawakinTofa added.

While reiterating the administration’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and zero tolerance for corruption, he accused the opposition of engaging in “political blackmail” through sponsored misinformation.

The statement also defended the credibility of Alhaji Abdullahi Rogo, insisting that the government has no reason to doubt his integrity.

Furthermore, the Yusuf administration took a swipe at the immediate past government, alleging that former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s administration mismanaged over ₦20 billion through the Protocol Office within three months after losing the 2023 elections.

“The people of Kano have not forgotten the infamous dollar-video scandal involving the former Governor. The previous administration was riddled with corruption, land grabbing, and the reckless diversion of public resources,” the statement said.

DawakinTofa added that the government is aware of an opposition-backed campaign aimed at writing frivolous petitions against senior officials to distract the NNPP administration from delivering on its promises.

He assured that while the government remains open to fair and lawful criticism, it will not “succumb to deliberate acts of misinformation designed to weaken the resolve of its officials and derail its development agenda.”

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