The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has suspended its Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, over alleged misconduct.

The NEC ordered a comprehensive forensic audit of the organization’s finances.

The decision followed an emergency NEC meeting held in Kaduna on Wednesday, according to the ACF National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Mohammed Baba.

Baba, who briefed journalists shortly after the meeting, said the NEC also passed a vote of no confidence on Dalhatu based on preliminary findings by the forum’s Ethics and Conduct Committee.

He explained that the suspension was not punitive but aimed at ensuring a transparent and unhindered investigation into allegations contained in a petition against the BOT chairman.

“The NEC has approved the suspension of the BOT chairman and ordered an immediate forensic audit of all finances of the ACF, not just the endowment fund.

“This is to ensure accountability and recover any funds not properly utilised in line with the constitution of the forum,” Baba stated.

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He added that the committee found evidence suggesting financial malfeasance and violations of due process, noting that the BOT chairman failed to respond to queries or appear before the investigative panel.

He said the NEC reaffirmed that there was no leadership crisis in the forum, describing recent developments as attempts to misinterpret and usurp constitutional powers.