Kano Governor Sacks Two Aides Over Drug Baron’s Bail, Palliative Diversion Scandal
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
Democracy Newsline Newspaper
August 10, 2025
In a decisive move that underscores his administration’s commitment to accountability and ethical governance, Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has ordered the immediate dismissal of two senior aides implicated in separate but serious misconduct cases that have sparked public outrage.
The governor’s action follows the conclusion of investigations by special committees tasked with examining alleged acts of corruption, abuse of office, and betrayal of public trust by some political appointees. According to a statement issued yesterday by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the two affected officials — Abubakar Umar Sharada and Tasiu Adamu Al’amin Roba — have been relieved of their duties with immediate effect.
Abubakar Umar Sharada, until his dismissal, served as the Senior Special Assistant on Political Mobilisation. Sharada was indicted after a high-powered committee found compelling evidence linking him to the controversial bail of notorious drug trafficker Sulaiman Aminu Danwawu, a figure long wanted by anti-narcotics agencies in northern Nigeria.
Investigators revealed that Sharada allegedly used his influence and network within the judicial system to secure an expedited bail for Danwawu, despite the latter facing multiple charges related to drug trafficking and organized crime. The move, which bypassed standard judicial protocols, drew sharp criticism from civil society and law enforcement stakeholders, raising concerns about the infiltration of politics into criminal justice processes.
The SSG’s letter directed Sharada to surrender all government property in his possession — including vehicles, official documents, and ID cards — to the Permanent Secretary of Research, Evaluation and Political Affairs (REPA), no later than the close of business on Monday, August 11, 2025. Sharada has also been barred from representing himself as a public official or affiliate of the Kano State Government in any capacity.
In a related development, Tasiu Adamu Al’amin Roba, the Senior Special Assistant in the Cabinet Office, was also dismissed after he was arrested and arraigned on charges of theft and criminal conspiracy. Roba was caught during a covert operation in December 2024, re-bagging palliative grains intended for distribution to low-income households across the state. The grains, which were part of a federal and state relief initiative, were reportedly found in a private warehouse in the Sharada Industrial Area.
The investigation revealed that Roba, in collaboration with other yet-to-be-identified accomplices, was allegedly diverting government palliatives, rebranding them, and preparing them for illegal resale in local markets. The arrest, described at the time as a major breakthrough in the fight against economic sabotage, has since led to broader inquiries into how widespread the abuse of the palliative distribution program might be.
Like Sharada, Roba was ordered to return all government assets in his possession and cease presenting himself as a government representative.
While two heads have rolled, the administration has also cleared Musa Ado Tsamiya, the Special Adviser on Drainages, of any wrongdoing. Tsamiya was the subject of an earlier petition alleging misappropriation of public funds allocated for urban drainage rehabilitation projects. However, the investigative panel found no evidence to support the claims, and he was officially exonerated.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, in his reaction to the development, reiterated his government’s zero-tolerance policy for corruption, abuse of office, and impunity. He warned all political appointees and civil servants that there would be no sacred cows in his administration.
“Our administration was elected on the mandate of integrity, discipline, and transparency,” the governor stated. “Anyone found to be betraying the trust of the people will face the full wrath of the law, regardless of their rank or relationship with those in power.”
He further stressed that beyond political accountability, public officials must be seen to be upright in their private lives as well, noting that “service to the people must be rooted in honesty, and those who cannot meet that standard will have no place in this government.”
The governor’s swift action has drawn praise from rights groups and political observers alike, who view it as a litmus test for the administration’s commitment to clean governance. Anti-corruption advocates have called on the state government to ensure that prosecutions follow, particularly in the case of the palliative diversion, which they describe as “a betrayal of the poorest citizens.”
Political analysts, however, caution that the governor must ensure the disciplinary process remains transparent and devoid of internal political vendettas. “This is a good first step,” said Dr. Farouk Ibrahim, a political science lecturer at Bayero University, Kano. “But to sustain public confidence, the government must ensure that investigations continue without fear or favour — and that convictions, not just dismissals, follow wrongdoing.”
As Kano continues to grapple with the challenges of public sector accountability, Governor Yusuf’s latest actions may well set a precedent for stricter ethical governance in northern Nigeria — and perhaps beyond.
