A major political scandal is brewing in Kano State as
Governor Abba Yusuf faces mounting pressure to sack his Commissioner for
Transport, Muhammad Namadi, following revelations of his controversial
involvement in a high-profile drug trafficking case.
Namadi, who was declared wanted by the police in 2013
and charged with fraud-related criminal offenses, was recently thrust back into
the spotlight after he stood surety for a notorious drug kingpin, Bashir
Danwawu, at the Federal High Court in Kano.
Surety Controversy
Danwawu, who had been under intense surveillance and
was arrested in a discreet operation sanctioned by the Kano State Security
Council, was granted bail by Justice M.S. Shu’aibu on July 16. One of the bail
conditions was for the accused to produce a serving commissioner as
surety and to deposit ?5 million.
Namadi, in a letter dated July 18, applied to stand as
the surety. However, his decision was met with widespread public outrage, given
his past criminal allegations and the sensitive nature of Danwawu’s case, which
is linked to drug trafficking—a major issue Governor Yusuf’s administration has
pledged to combat.
DSS Investigation and Bribery Allegation
Sources within the Department of State Services (DSS)
confirmed to Daily Nigerian that a covert investigation into the matter
revealed that Namadi allegedly received a bribe of $30,000 before
agreeing to serve as surety for Danwawu. The DSS is said to have recommended
Namadi’s dismissal, viewing his actions as undermining the administration’s
efforts to fight illicit drugs in the state.
“This was a direct affront to the governor’s anti-drug
campaign,” a government insider disclosed. “Governor Abba Yusuf personally
approved the operation that led to Danwawu’s arrest. So, this betrayal is taken
very seriously.”
Political Tension and Kwankwaso’s
Influence
Despite initial plans to fire Namadi, Governor Yusuf
is believed to have delayed action following consultations with the New Nigeria
People’s Party (NNPP) leader and former presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa
Kwankwaso, who reportedly recommended Namadi for the commissioner position.
“The governor’s hands are tied. Namadi has long been a
controversial figure with multiple scandals trailing him,” the source said.
“But Yusuf fears that sacking him without Kwankwaso’s blessing could be seen as
political disloyalty.”
Internal Friction in Government
The scandal has also exposed deep rifts within the
Kano State government. Namadi’s ministry has reportedly fallen out of favor
with the governor. More than 30 memos from the Ministry of Transport have been
left unattended, marked “keep in view” or “see me,” reflecting growing distrust
between the governor and the embattled commissioner.
Adding to the friction, Namadi is said to be engaged
in a bitter conflict with the state chairman of the National Union of Road
Transport Workers (NURTW), Kabiru Labour, allegedly over the imposition of a
mandatory ?500,000 monthly "return" payment to the commissioner’s
office.
Due to the discord, key transport initiatives have
bypassed the Ministry of Transport altogether. In one case, a recent proposal
to purchase solar-powered tricycles for Kano was submitted to the State
Executive Council without the ministry’s involvement.
Denials and Counter-Allegations
When contacted, Commissioner Namadi denied all
allegations against him, stating, “I’m not aware of all the allegations you
mentioned; it’s not true.”
Shortly after, Kano State Commissioner for
Information, Ibrahim Waiya, accused Daily Nigerian of harassing Namadi
and attempting to malign the government, though he did not refute the specific
details of the report.
Looking Ahead
As the investigation continues, citizens and civil
society groups are calling for Governor Yusuf to take decisive action to uphold
the integrity of his administration’s anti-drug campaign. Whether or not
political pressure from within the NNPP will influence his decision remains to
be seen.
For now, Namadi remains in office, but his position
appears increasingly untenable.
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