The Kano State government has cautioned media organisations against what it described as “malicious reports” on an alleged N6.5 billion misappropriation case currently under investigation.
Officials said the matter is being handled by anti-graft agencies and is already before the courts.
At a press briefing, the State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, accused sections of the media of orchestrating a campaign aimed at discrediting the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Waiya voiced concern over what he called the “reckless and continuous manipulation of innocent citizens” through the recycling of old allegations to create misleading narratives. “Journalism or media should not become a tool of manipulation or misinformation,” he cautioned.
He further alleged that “desperate, faceless, and unpatriotic elements” were behind the stories, which he said were designed to portray the government as harbouring corrupt officials or condoning malpractice.
The Commissioner insisted that such claims run counter to Governor Yusuf’s declared stance of zero tolerance for corruption, citing institutional reforms and previous decisive actions on corruption-related cases.
Responding specifically to reports concerning the former Accountant General and current Commissioner of Rural and Community Development, Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, who was alleged to have returned N1.17 billion, Waiya explained that the matter stemmed from earlier investigations by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He noted that the case is now before the courts.
He described the renewed coverage of the story as a “deliberate attempt at undermining the government of Abba Kabir Yusuf” and a distraction from its ongoing achievements.
The Commissioner appealed to journalists to uphold professional ethics of objectivity, fairness, and accuracy, and to protect their profession from what he termed “selfish and primordial sentiments.”
Waiya reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability, adding that new measures have been introduced to guarantee the prudent management of public funds.
