The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has suspended its Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Bashir Dalhatu, over alleged financial misconduct and constitutional breaches.
Kano Times reports that the decision was taken on Wednesday during an emergency NEC meeting held in Kaduna, attended by delegates from the 18 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, ACF spokesperson, Tukur Muhammad-Baba, disclosed that the venue for the NEC meeting was changed after police sealed the forum’s secretariat located on Sokoto Road.
However, Kaduna State Police Command spokesperson, Mansir Hassan, said the secretariat was sealed to prevent a possible breakdown of law and order.
The crisis rocking the forum followed disagreements over the tenure of some officials.
Trouble reportedly began when Dalhatu questioned the expiration of the tenure of certain officeholders, including ACF Secretary-General, Murtala Aliyu.
In a statement reacting to the development, Dalhatu cited provisions of the ACF constitution, which stipulate a single six-year tenure for BoT members, while NEC members are entitled to a three-year term renewable once.
He said the BoT had earlier received a petition from “concerned members” alleging constitutional breaches within the organisation.
According to him, the matter was deliberated at a BoT meeting held on April 23, 2026, where it was resolved that officials who assumed office in March 2020 completed their tenure on March 10, 2026.
Dalhatu listed affected officials as F. Orti, Deputy Chairman of the BoT; Ibrahim Sule, Vice Chairman of the BoT; Ibrahim Ida, Deputy Chairman of NEC; and Murtala Aliyu, Secretary-General.
He explained that Aliyu’s tenure was extended to May 15, 2026, to ensure a smooth transition but alleged that the secretary-general refused to vacate office.
“In a baffling twist, Mallam Murtala Aliyu, now in his seventh year as secretary-general, has rejected the resolution and continues to hold on to office,” Dalhatu said.
He further revealed that efforts were made to resolve the dispute amicably, including a meeting of elders convened by Haliru Akilu and Mahmud Ahmed on April 21, 2026.
Dalhatu also alleged that Aliyu escalated the crisis by convening the May 6 emergency NEC meeting aimed at overturning the BoT resolution.
Despite the allegations against him, the suspended BoT chairman dismissed claims of financial misappropriation, insisting that funds under the ACF endowment were transparently managed.
Responding, Aliyu maintained that his tenure remains valid, citing due process and documented reappointment.
“I was appointed secretary in March 2020, inaugurated in August 2020, re-elected in July 2023, and inaugurated in December 2023. I have documents to support all these,” he said.
He added that his re-election in 2023 renewed his mandate, contradicting claims that his tenure had expired.
