ACF protests sealing of headquarters ahead of NEC meeting

From Noah Ebije, Kaduna

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has protested the sealing of its Kaduna headquarters by the Nigeria Police Force, describing the action as unjustified and without legal backing.

When contacted, the Kaduna State Police Command’s spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, promised to respond to inquiries but was yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

However, in a statement yesterday, in Kaduna, the National Publicity Secretary, Tukur Muhammad-Baba, said police personnel shut down their office ahead of a scheduled National Executive Council (NEC) meeting slated for today.

In the statement, the ACF said it was unaware of any court order or directive restricting its activities. It added that the only indication linked to the development was an unsigned circular allegedly attributed to Bashir Dalhatu, claiming that the NEC meeting had been cancelled because it was convened by the Forum’s Secretary General.

The ACF, however, rejected the claim, insisting that the meeting was duly convened by its Chairman, Mamman Osuman, in line with the provisions of its Constitution.

It clarified that the Chairman of the Board of Trustees has no authority over such functions outside the scope defined by the Forum’s governing rules.

“The meetings are being called at the instance of the Chairman and not the Secretary General, irrespective of current arguments about the latter’s tenure,” the statement said.

The Forum noted that its earlier National Working Committee (NWC) meeting, held the same day, proceeded without incident and that security agencies were duly informed.

It called on the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, to direct the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police to immediately unseal the premises, warning that the action could disrupt its scheduled engagements. Delegates, it added, had already arrived in Kaduna for the NEC meeting.

“As it stands, there is absolutely no basis for sealing the office unless there are unstated motives,” the statement added, expressing hope that “rationality and good judgement will prevail.”