The controversy surrounding the alleged ₦6.5 billion scandal linked to Abdullahi Rogo, Director General of Protocol under Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, has deepened as civil society groups, the state government, and allies of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje trade accusations.
The League of Civil Society Organisations in Kano, a coalition of 20 groups, alleged on Monday that its members were being harassed and threatened after calling on the state government to prosecute Rogo over alleged financial misconduct.
According to the coalition, some members were coerced into publicly withdrawing their earlier statements under pressure.
“Two of our members were intimidated through their families and forced to issue disclaimers,” the group said, warning that powerful individuals were attempting to silence civil society through state machinery.
Kano govt defends aide, blames opposition
In response, the Kano State Government dismissed the allegations as a political ploy by the opposition to discredit Governor Yusuf’s administration.
While insisting that Rogo enjoys “undoubted credibility,” the government accused Ganduje’s administration of reckless spending, alleging that his protocol office spent over ₦20 billion in just three months after the APC lost the 2023 elections.
The government further referenced Ganduje’s past controversies, including the dollar-video scandal and alleged land grabbing, describing the previous administration as “corruption-driven.”
Ganduje’s aide fires back
Reacting to the claims, Muhammad Garba, an aide to Ganduje, rejected the allegations, describing them as false, politically motivated, and designed to cover up the Yusuf administration’s failures.
Garba insisted that all expenditures under Ganduje were lawful and within budgetary approval. He defended Ganduje’s record, saying his leadership was defined by transparency and accountability, and accused the current government of dragging his name into unrelated scandals.
Anti-graft probe
Media reports recently claimed that Rogo returned ₦1.1 billion to the ICPC recovery account. Investigators allegedly linked him to accounts holding billions in suspicious inflows and outflows between 2022 and 2025.
The case remains before the Federal High Court as pressure mounts on the government to clarify its stance and ensure accountability.
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