Breaking: ACF suspends BOT chairman

Breaking: ACF suspends BOT chairman

…. orders forensic audit of financial transactions

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has suspended the Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Alhaji Bashir M. Dalhatu.

Dalhatu was suspended over allegations of financial misconduct and constitutional breaches.

The decision was taken at an ACF emergency NEC meeting held in Kaduna on Wednesday.

The meeting was held amidst leadership crisis in the pan Northern group.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, the ACF National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, said delegates from 18 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory met in another venue after police sealed the forum’s secretariait in Kaduna.

He said the NEC condemned the unlawful restriction of access to its headquarters,  insisting it amounted to interference with the right of the association to run its internal affairs.

According to him, the NEC meeting agreed that there was no leadership vacuum within the ACF, describing recent events as a “misinterpretation” of its constitution and  alleged attempt to usurp authority by certain individuals.

In this respect, the ACF spokesman said that the NEC deliberated on the report of its Ethics and Conduct Committee set up to investigate a petition on financial management and governance practices within the forum.

Prof. Muhammad-Baba said the committee’s preliminary findings pointed to serious concerns requiring further investigation, particularly in relation to due process and financial administration.

Based on the recommendations, the NEC passed a vote of no confidence on Alhaji Bashir M. Dalhatu and approved his immediate suspension as Chairman of the Board of Trustees pending further investigation.

The NEC also directed an immediate forensic audit of all financial activities of the ACF, including its Endowment Fund, with instructions to recover any funds found to have been improperly managed.

In addition, the NEC reaffirmed confidence in the current National Working Committee led by the forum’s Chairman, Mr. Mike Mamman Osuman, SAN, and maintained the position of the Secretary General pending any constitutional review process.