The Kano State Government has pushed back strongly against corruption allegations rocking its Director-General of Protocol, Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo, describing reports of a ₦6.5 billion diversion as a “political hit job” designed to weaken Governor Abba Yusuf ahead of the 2027 elections.
Both the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are investigating claims that state funds were funneled through shell companies, bureau de change operators, and personal accounts linked to Rogo. Already, investigators say they have recovered about ₦1.3 billion and frozen two Zenith Bank accounts tied to him.
But the Yusuf administration insisted the case is being exaggerated for political mileage. In a statement signed by the Director-General of Media and Publicity, Sanusi Bature, the government said the Protocol Directorate’s spending is transparent and subject to budgetary controls.
“The Protocol Office runs no secret accounts. Its functions — welfare, accommodation, logistics, and receiving visiting dignitaries — naturally involve large financial transactions. Mr. Rogo is being unfairly targeted,” the statement read.
The government accused the opposition of weaponizing the allegations, pointing fingers at former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, whom it blamed for what it called “reckless withdrawals” of over ₦20 billion from the same Directorate in just three months before leaving office in 2023.
The statement also invoked the widely circulated “dollar-bribe” video of Ganduje, while accusing his allies of illegal land grabs and looting public assets.
Still, the anti-graft dragnet continues to close in. ICPC, unhappy with a recent High Court ruling that restrained its probe and awarded Rogo ₦2 million in damages, warned that judicial shields risk emboldening corruption.
Caught between investigations and courtroom battles, the Kano government says it will cooperate fully with law enforcement but insisted it will not allow political opponents to “distract the governor with smear campaigns.”
“As the matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction, we will refrain from further comment until due process takes its course,” it added.
For now, Rogo remains in his role, a symbol of both loyalty and controversy in Yusuf’s young administration — and a lightning rod in Kano’s fierce political wars
Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo
