A legal battle is brewing between a former Kano State commissioner, AVM Ibrahim Umar (Rtd), and the Kano State Government over the controversial seizure of an official vehicle.

According to the suit, marked NICN/KN/14/2026, was filed before the National Industrial Court against the Attorney General of Kano State and two other defendants.

The dispute stems from a directive issued after the reported defection of Abba Kabir Yusuf to the All Progressives Congress (APC), which led to the voluntary resignation of several commissioners.

It will be recalled that on February 16, 2026, the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) directed the outgoing officials to return their allocated vehicles through a circular referenced SSG/AGS/R/39/T.III.

The former commissioners responded in a joint letter dated February 17, citing the 2023 Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission Act.

They argued that official vehicles form part of the statutory conditions of service for State Executive Council members and that previous administrations had allowed commissioners to retain such vehicles.

In a letter dated February 26, 2026, counsel to AVM Umar, Auwal Adam Ibrahim, alleged that agents acting on behalf of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) forcibly entered the retired Air Vice Marshal’s residence to recover the vehicle.

The lawyer described the action as a breach of privacy that left the claimant’s family “disturbed.”

The legal team is demanding clarification on the legal basis for the forced entry, the identities and addresses of the individuals involved, and the immediate return of the vehicle within 48 hours.

Speaking in a press statement, AVM Umar (Rtd) said the former commissioners were seeking judicial interpretation to ensure that the “rule of law is fully complied with by those in authority.”

He further alleged that personal vehicles belonging to spouses were also seized while families were away from home.

However, a senior state government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, dismissed the claims as unfounded.

According to the official, the government reserves the right to auction, gift, or recall official assets.

“Auctioning typically occurs after about four years of use. These vehicles were allocated in May 2025, meaning they have been in use for less than a year,” the official said.

The source also rejected arguments based on past practices, noting that previous administrations’ decisions do not bind the current government.

He likened the claim to “a robber caught stealing who complains that others were not arrested,” insisting that the administration is determined to safeguard state property.

As tensions rise, the former commissioners have urged their supporters to remain calm while the court determines whether the vehicles constitute a legal entitlement or remain the property of the Kano State Government. (TRIBUNE)