The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kano Branch, has condemned the actions of Kano State Commissioner for Transport, Alhaji Ibrahim Namadi, for standing as surety for a man facing trial for alleged drug trafficking.
In a statement signed by the branch chairman, Usman Umar Fari, the NBA rejected the commissioner’s excuse that he was misled, saying, “The commissioner’s defense that he was misled into acting as surety raises more questions than answers.”
“We have taken note of the response of the Kano State Commissioner for Transport who is being scrutinized by the general public, having stood as surety for a notorious alleged drug baron in Kano,” the statement read.
Namadi had earlier claimed he was persuaded by “important personalities” and was unaware of the nature of the charges when he filed an affidavit of means for the defendant, identified as Sulaiman Aminu.
The NBA said it found the claim unacceptable. “If a commissioner and member of a state cabinet can stand as a surety and file an affidavit of means after filing the bail application without knowledge of the nature of the charge, then the commissioner is highly reckless and grossly incompetent to hold the position of commissioner and member of the cabinet.”
The association demanded transparency on who influenced the commissioner’s action. “We demand to know who these important personalities are that persuaded the commissioner to stand as surety without him having any interest or relationship with the defendant. Are they within the government, within the business community, or traditional institution? The commissioner needs to explain,” Fari stated.
The NBA called on the Kano State Government to publicly clarify its position and urged law enforcement agencies to step in.
“We also urge the other security and law enforcement agencies to extend their investigation by inviting the commissioner to reveal the identities and involvement of those important personalities and their possible involvement in drug trafficking in Kano,” the statement added.
The statement concluded with a call for a shake-up in the state cabinet: “Furthermore, the Government of Kano State should educate its cabinet members and appoint competent people of proven integrity to positions of authority. We wait the positive responses of those that matter,” Fari said.
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