A storm is brewing within the Arewa Consultative Forum (APC) following allegations of grievous misconduct against the Chairman of its Board of Trustees (BOT) Alhaji Bashi Dalhatu prompting a recommendation for his suspension and a full forensic audit of the forum’s finances.
Chairman of the Ethics and conduct Committee, Professor Nuhu Muhammad Jamu, disclosed this while presenting the committee’s report at the forum’s NEC meeting presided by rhe Chairman, Mr Mike Osuman SAN.
According to him, the committee was constituted after receiving a petition from a member of the forum alleging serious infractions by the BOT chairman.
Given the weight of the allegations and limited time available, the committee adopted an expedited process to review the claims while ensuring fair hearing.
“We referred the petition to the BOT chairman and requested his response within 48 hours,” Jamu said. “Unfortunately, he did not respond within the stipulated time, leaving us to proceed based on the available evidence.”
The committee’s findings, he noted, revealed multiple violations of the forum’s constitutional provisions. Central among the issues was the alleged overreach of authority by the BOT chairman, particularly in matters reserved for other organs of the forum.
One cited instance involved the cancellation of a meeting convened by the forum’s chairman—a move the committee said lacked constitutional backing. “While the chairman acted within his powers to summon the meeting, the BOT chairman’s decision to cancel it was not supported by any provision of the constitution,” Jamu explained.
The report also raised concerns about the participation of individuals whose membership status in the forum could not be verified. The committee noted that the inclusion of non-members in deliberations undermines the legitimacy of decisions taken.
However, the most contentious issue remains financial management. The committee questioned the involvement of the BOT chairman in operational financial activities, describing it as a breach of governance norms.
“It is unusual for a supervisory body to be directly involved in financial operations,” Jamu stated. “There must always be a clear distinction between policy oversight and execution.”
The committee further alleged that funds from the forum’s endowment were moved across accounts under questionable circumstances, with the BOT chairman reportedly becoming a signatory after initiating the transfers.
Describing the situation as troubling, the committee recommended a forensic audit to trace the movement of funds and determine whether any misappropriation occurred. It also called for the recovery of any funds found to have been misapplied.
Jamu emphasized that the recommendation to suspend the BOT chairman was not punitive but necessary to ensure a transparent and unbiased investigation.
“This is about preserving the integrity of the forum,” he said. “We need open access to financial and administrative records to establish the facts and ensure accountability.”
He assured members that the process would adhere strictly to principles of natural justice, with all parties given the opportunity to present their case.
The forum is expected to deliberate on the committee’s recommendations and decide on the next course of action in the coming days.
Corroborating, National Publicity Seccretary of the Forum Professor Tukur Mohammed Baba said delegates from 18 northern states and the .FCT attended the meeting i. Which a vote of confidence qas passed on the NEC Chairman and the.Sexeratry General Alahji Aliyu Murtala while a vote of jno.confidence was passed on the.BOT Chairman.
