As the crisis in the Northern Socio-cultural group rages on, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has further shed light on why it suspended the Chairman of its Board of Trustees (BOT), Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, over alleged diversion of funds and violations of the Forum’s constitution.

The NEC of ACF made the clarification in a communiqué issued after its meeting held in Kaduna, where it also passed a vote of no confidence on the BOT chairman and ordered a forensic audit of the Forum’s finances.

It said that despite the seal-up of it Secretariat in Kaduna by armed police, officials of the Forum moved it’s meeting to other secured location where it was successfully held.

According to the communiqué signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the decision to probe the finances of ACF followed the adoption of recommendations by the Forum’s Code of Conduct and Ethics Committee (CCEC), which investigated allegations contained in a petition against Dalhatu.

Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba said that the suspension of the BoT led by Dalhatu was necessary following allegations that funds from the Forum’s N1.4 billion Endowment Fund were allegedly moved into accounts outside approved financial structures without proper authorisation.

It also accused the BOT chairman of taking actions outside his constitutional role, including alleged interference in financial administration and constitution of committees without NEC approval.

The communiqué stated that the CCEC found that the ACF constitution clearly vests financial management and executive authority in designated organs of the Forum, while the BOT is limited to oversight functions.

NEC added that its decision was also informed by the need to protect the integrity, unity and accountability of the Forum, pending the outcome of ongoing investigations and a full audit of its finances.

The Forum also noted reports of security presence at its headquarters ahead of the meeting, describing it as an attempt to disrupt its proceedings, but said members successfully relocated and held the meeting without interruption.

NEC reaffirmed its commitment to upholding constitutional order within the Forum and ensuring transparency in all its activities.