After Governor Yusuf defected to the APC, several commissioners resigned and have since accused the administration of harassing them, violating their rights, and unlawfully taking their personal property.
Publicly, Air Vice-Marshal Ibrahim Umar (retd.), representing the impacted officials, announced that the State Government’s Office had officially asked for the return of the vehicles assigned to them during their tenure.
But the ex-commissioners insisted that their answer highlighted legislation that, in their view, supports their stance.
Statement: “responded, drawing the attention of the Office on the provision of Revised 2023 Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission Act which justified the provision of related vehicles and other [benefits] to such category of political and public office holders.”
In addition, the outgoing commissioners said they had gone to court to get a ruling on the issue, saying they had to do it “to ensure that rule of law is fully complied by all and sundry including those in authority.”
They said that government agents became violent when they decided to seek judicial intervention.
The administration “went berserk trespassing our homes and intimidating our families evacuating other personal vehicles belonging to our spouses while away from homes,” the statement asserted.
According to the ex-officials, their “personal liberty and sanctity of our family members were grossly violated and disrespected.” They explained that the government’s actions were an effort to bring shame and discredit onto the officers who had faithfully served the people and the state.
The vehicles in question were assigned to them only four months ago, they said, adding, “prior to which they were utilising their personal vehicles in all official engagements to ensure the success of the regime for more than two years.” This is why they are now at the center of the dispute.
Reminding their followers to keep calm, the former commissioners stated that they will keep seeking redress through the courts.
“As law-abiding citizens, we will uphold the principles of the rule of law and urge all our supporters to remain calm during this negative propaganda until judicial interpretation is secured,” the statement stressed.