By Deborah Nnamdi
The Chairman of Rano Local Government Area in Kano State, Muhammad Naziru Ya’u, has been suspended for three months by the Kano State House of Assembly over allegations of financial misappropriation and diversion of subsidised fertiliser.
The suspension followed the adoption of recommendations by the House Standing Committee on Public Petitions during a plenary session presided over by Speaker Rt. Hon. Jibril Isma’il Falgore on Wednesday.
Presenting the committee’s findings, the Chairman of the committee and Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Lawan Hussaini Dala, revealed that the investigation was triggered by a petition signed by nine out of the ten councillors of Rano LGA. The petition alleged several irregularities, including the unauthorised sale of council-owned shops and the diversion of fertiliser meant for public farmers.
Although Chairman Ya’u denied the allegations, Dala said the committee, after a thorough investigation, found the claims credible and substantiated.
Citing Section 128 of the Nigerian Constitution and Section 55 (1–6) of the Kano State Local Government Law (2006), Dala stated that the Assembly has the authority to suspend local government officials for accountability purposes.
The suspension is intended to allow for a deeper investigation into the alleged misconduct. The House also directed the immediate submission of the council’s 2025 financial statement and recommended that the vice chairman assume leadership in an acting capacity during the suspension period.
The Assembly has now placed Rano LGA under temporary legislative oversight pending the outcome of further inquiries.
