The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has officially dissociated itself from the appointment of convicted pension fraudster Abdulrasheed Maina as Patron of its Garki branch in Abuja, calling the action “reprehensible” and a “mockery of the legal profession and the fight against corruption.”

According to a statement issued by NBA President Mazi Osigwe on Friday, disciplinary proceedings will commence against the Garki Branch Chairman, Anthony Ojo, who authorised Maina’s appointment.

“The purported appointment not only paints the legal profession and the NBA in a bad light but also makes a mockery of the government’s fight against corruption, as well as the association’s motto of promoting the rule of law,” Mr Osigwe said.

“The Bar fails in her duties to the society and the cause of justice when it condones, encourages, and or fails to take definite actions to eliminate corruption and corrupt practices.”

At the event, Mr Maina called for an intensified investigation into former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

“What the government has seen so far may only be a fraction. My speciality is the recovery of public funds. We can recover more. There must be accountability, transparency, and the rule of law. Malami should be properly prosecuted and investigated again because he has not been properly investigated,” Mr Maina said.

He claimed that powerful persons in the former administration orchestrated his corruption saga and denied wrongdoing, insisting that Mr Malami and other top forces in the Buhari administration were after him.

Mr Maina, a former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, was appointed in 2010 by the Goodluck Jonathan administration to reform the pension system and eliminate ghost workers.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) later charged him in FHC/ABJ/CR/256/2019 with using fictitious names and accounts to siphon pension funds through relatives and accomplices.

Three of his siblings testified against him in court, revealing how Mr Maina fraudulently used their information to open accounts for his company, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd. Nigerian banks, including UBA and Fidelity Bank Plc, were reported to have acted as conduits for the stolen funds.

After fleeing Nigeria in 2013, he was arrested and extradited in 2019.

In November 2021, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sentenced him to eight years’ imprisonment for laundering N2 billion in pension funds.

“The facts of this case are sordid, immoral, and morbid. The facts portray the moral decadence in Nigeria,” Justice Abang noted.

The Court of Appeal later affirmed the conviction and handed a 14-year jail term to Mr Maina’s son, Faisal, for related offences.
Recent Release from Prison

Though the exact date is unclear, Mr Maina quietly completed his prison term in February 2025.

Thursday’s NBA event marked one of his first public appearances since his release.

Recounting his time as a fugitive, he claimed, “I was flown out of the country on a government aircraft for medical care, but officials turned around and arrested me in the Niger Republic for jumping bail.”

The NBA has ordered Mr Ojo to immediately withdraw Maina’s appointment and stop issuing statements on his behalf or on pending court cases.

“While the NBA respects Mr Maina’s right to exhaust his right to appeal against the conviction, the Bar will not under any guise comment on such an appeal or be seen to try to sway public opinion in his favour,” the statement said.

Mr Osigwe added, “The association would not lend its platform, name, or institutional credibility to influence public opinion or judicial proceedings in respect of cases that are sub judice or take steps that may be perceived as laundering the image of any person convicted of criminal offences.”

He described such acts as “a grave violation of professional ethics and a direct affront to the rule of law.”

The NBA president stressed that integrity, accountability, respect for the judicial process, and public confidence in the legal profession are foundational values.

He warned that any conduct undermining these principles would attract decisive institutional response.

“The NBA views this conduct as a serious breach of professional responsibility and institutional discipline. Accordingly, disciplinary proceedings will be commenced against the Chairman of the NBA Garki Branch for actions inconsistent with the Constitution of the NBA, the Rules of Professional Conduct, and the core values of the legal profession.”

Kwankwaso Says He’s ‘Not For sale’, Rallies Supporters After Governor Yusuf Left NNPP
Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, national leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, has dismissed speculation that he could abandon his political ideology following the resignation of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, from the New Nigeria Peoples Party.

Speaking to supporters at his residence in Kano, Kwankwaso declared that he was “not for sale,” insisting that his political engagement was driven by principles and commitment to the welfare of ordinary Nigerians rather than personal gain.

He cautioned party members, particularly youths, against the lure of money politics, urging them to remain steadfast in defending the ideals of the Kwankwasiyya Movement despite recent defections.

Governor Yusuf’s exit from the NNPP has sparked a wave of resignations within the party’s state structure, with reports indicating that several aides, local government chairmen, and lawmakers have followed suit.

In response to the unfolding developments, Kwankwaso held meetings with Kwankwasiyya groups across the state to reassure loyalists and outline strategies aimed at preserving the party’s grassroots base.

The NNPP leadership has condemned Yusuf’s resignation, describing it as a betrayal of the mandate freely given by Kano voters and the longstanding loyalty of the party’s supporters.

The party also rejected claims that internal crises necessitated the governor’s decision, arguing that such narratives were unfounded.

Kwankwaso used the occasion to call for early mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing the need to consolidate party structures, strengthen internal cohesion, and prepare effectively for future political contests.

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress have called on the National Assembly to assume the legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly, citing what they described as a worsening constitutional crisis in the state.

The call followed renewed attempts by the Rivers Assembly to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, which APC leaders said were politically motivated and amounted to an abuse of legislative powers.

The crisis deepened last Friday when the Assembly wrote to the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, requesting the constitution of a seven-member panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against the governor and his deputy.

However, the Chief Judge declined the request on Thursday, citing subsisting court orders restraining him from taking further action.

Despite the development, the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, maintained that the impeachment process should continue, describing it as the only path to resolving the political impasse in the state.

Reacting, the APC Leaders Forum said the House had lost public trust and credibility, accusing it of repeatedly abusing its constitutional mandate.

In a statement jointly signed by the forum’s National Leader, Ibrahim Danjuma, National Secretary, Akpan Ekpeyong, alongside civil society leaders Ifeanyi Okorie, Maryann Douglas, and Collins Akpofure, the group warned that democracy in Rivers State was under serious threat.

The forum described the allegations against Governor Fubara as unsubstantiated, insisting that the impeachment move lacked both legal and factual basis.

It urged the national leadership of the APC and the National Assembly to intervene to safeguard democratic governance in the state.

The group also accused 27 lawmakers allegedly loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike of diverting state resources for personal and political interests.

It further called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene decisively, arguing that extraordinary measures were necessary to prevent a breakdown of constitutional order.

Meanwhile, the High Court of the Oyigbo Division in Port Harcourt adjourned indefinitely the suit filed by Governor Fubara and his deputy challenging the impeachment process.

The presiding judge, Justice Fiberesima, adjourned the matter sine die following confirmation that two separate appeals had been filed before the Court of Appeal.

In a related development, the Rivers State chapter of the APC, led by Chief Emeka Beke, commended the presidency for recognising Governor Fubara as the leader of the party in the state.

The party’s Publicity Secretary, Dalington Nwauju, said President Tinubu’s position aligned with the party’s national convention, which recognises sitting governors as state party leaders.

The Rivers APC also called on Governor Fubara to convene an urgent stakeholders’ meeting to address lingering internal divisions.

The party reiterated its demand for the resignation of the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, over comments on the impeachment process and urged the National Working Committee to conduct fresh congresses at ward, local government, and state levels.

The APC in Rivers State is currently divided into two factions, led by Emeka Beke and Tony Okocha, respectively.

The New Nigeria Peoples Party has criticised the resignation of Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, describing his decision as a betrayal of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and the trust of the people of the state.

In a statement issued on Friday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Oladipo Johnson, said Yusuf’s departure from the NNPP marked a painful setback for a movement built on decades of loyalty, sacrifice, and popular struggle in Kano politics.

The party noted that the governor, who rose to power with the support of former Kano State Governor and Kwankwasiyya leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, had announced his resignation after weeks of political tension and speculation.

Although Yusuf has not officially declared his next political destination, the NNPP said there were strong indications he may be heading to the All Progressives Congress.

According to the party, the justification offered by the governor, that the NNPP was plagued by an irredeemable crisis, was unfounded and inconsistent with recent developments within the party.

It recalled that the NNPP successfully conducted congresses at all levels, from wards to the national convention, on December 20, 2025, under the supervision of INEC, with Governor Yusuf himself in attendance.

The party also pointed to its victories in the Bagwai/Shanono and Ghari/Tsanyawa supplementary elections held in August 2025 as evidence of its organisational strength.

The NNPP warned that Yusuf’s decision risked returning Kano State to political forces it claimed had historically worked against the state’s development and the aspirations of its people.

“This decision represents a painful betrayal of the sacred trust placed in him by the people of Kano State, who believed in his long-standing commitment to the Kwankwasiyya vision,” the statement said.

Drawing parallels with Kano’s political history, the party referenced the defection of former governor Abubakar Rimi in the early 1980s, noting that despite taking along a majority of elected officials at the time, the electorate ultimately rejected him at the polls.

The NNPP said the episode served as a reminder that political opportunism often attracts consequences, adding that history had consistently shown that loyalty traded for expediency rarely goes unpunished.

The party, however, urged its members and supporters to remain calm and law-abiding, calling for patience and restraint in the face of what it described as a deeply troubling development.

While acknowledging the pain felt by supporters of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, the NNPP expressed confidence that the people of Kano would ultimately uphold principled leadership and hold firm to the ideals that have defined the movement over the years.

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has formally resigned from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), citing persistent internal crises and the need to protect the interests of the people of Kano State.

The resignation was disclosed by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, who presented Yusuf’s letter of resignation to the Chairman of Diso-Chiranchi Ward in Gwale Local Government Area, effective January 23, 2026.

In his resignation letter, Governor Yusuf expressed gratitude to the NNPP for the opportunity to serve the party and the people of Kano since 2022.

He explained that his decision was guided solely by public interest, and emphasised that it was made in good faith without any ill will.

“In recent times, the party has faced persistent internal challenges arising from leadership disagreements and ongoing legal processes, many of which are before the courts,” Yusuf noted.

“These disagreements have deepened divisions and weakened unity within the party, creating cracks that appear increasingly irreconcilable.”

He added: “After careful reflection, and without prejudice to the party’s capacity to resolve its internal challenges, I have concluded that my resignation is in the best interest of the people of Kano State. This decision is taken in good faith, with a continued commitment to peace, unity, and the progress of the state.”

Governor Yusuf is reportedly leaving the NNPP alongside 21 members of the Kano State House of Assembly, eight members of the House of Representatives, and 44 local government chairmen across the state.

The NNPP, through the Secretary of Diso-Chiranchi Ward, Hon. Kabiru Zubairu, acknowledged Yusuf’s contributions to governance and described him as one of the party’s most performing governors, noting his achievements in infrastructure, urban renewal, healthcare, education, and economic empowerment.

While Yusuf has not officially announced his next political affiliation, speculation is rife that he may join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), following his recent meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.