The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the Police Monitoring Unit to produce Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature, at the force headquarters in Abuja, over alleged criminal defamation concerning Ganduje’s purported suspension.
In 2024, the All Progressives Congress (APC) exco of Ganduje ward suspended the party’s national chairman over what it described as anti-party activities and non-payment of party dues.
This decision was alleged to have been masterminded by Mr. Bature, who happened to be from the same locality as the APC national chairman.
In a letter dated 23rd May, 2025 with file no. CR/3000/IGP-SEC/MU/ADM/14/ABJ/VOL 118/57, addressed to the Secretary to the Kano State Government, the IGP demanded the release of Bature to appear before one SP Mojirode B. Obisiji on Thursday, 29th May, 2025.
The invitation letter signed by the head, IGP Monetary Unit, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Akin Fakorede, addressed to the SSG read, “The police is investigating a case of Criminal Defamation of Characters, Intentional Insult, Impersonation and Conduct Likely to Cause Breach of Peace, reported to the IGP in which the above mentioned appointee attached to the office of the Executive Governor of Kano state as Chief Press Secretary featured prominently.
“In view of the above, you are requested to release the said Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa to report for an interview with the undersigned, through SP. Mojirode B. Obisiji on Thursday 29th May, 2025 by 1200hrs at the first floor Louis Edet House, Force Headquarters, Abuja, to shed more light on the allegation raised”.
In December 2024, the IGP issued a similar order, deploying operatives of the IGP’s monitoring unit to arrest the governor’s spokesperson and produce him at the force intelligence headquarters in Abuja.
It was gathered that the police are intensifying the arrest of Bature for allegedly being involved in the suspension of the APC national chairman by Ganduje ward Exco in 2024.
The controversy erupted after Ganduje alleged a conspiracy spearheaded by Bature, who hails from the same local government as Ganduje, and the New Nigeria Peopleās Party (NNPP)-led Kano State Government, where the APC chairman alleged that Bature was behind his suspension, a move he described as an attempt to cripple his political influence.
