In a dramatic development that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria's political and anti-corruption circles, former Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) Chairman, Barr. Muhuyi Magaji Rimin-Gado, has been arrested and detained by the Nigeria Police Force. The arrest, carried out on Friday, 6 December 2025, has triggered a fierce response from the Kano State Government, which alleges a politically motivated plot to destabilise the state.
The Arrest: A Heavily Armed Operation
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, described as heavily armed, stormed the chambers of the former anti-graft boss on Friday afternoon. According to confirmed reports, approximately forty armed police officers were involved in the operation that led to Rimin-Gado's arrest. He was subsequently whisked away from his office in Kano and transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for what police sources only termed a "high-profile investigation."
The spokesperson for the Kano State Police Command, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, could not be reached for comments to clarify the precise reasons for the arrest at the time the incident was reported. This lack of official police statement has fueled speculation and concern.
Kano Government Raises Alarm Over Political Motives
The Kano State Government has reacted swiftly and strongly, framing the arrest as an assault on the state's stability and the rule of law. In an urgent press briefing held on Friday, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkareem Maude SAN, condemned the police action.
Maude revealed that the arrest was conducted without a warrant and lacked any presentation of due legal evidence, raising serious constitutional and security concerns. He directly linked the detention to Rimin-Gado's past work, noting that the former chairman investigated and prosecuted several high-profile cases involving politically exposed persons from Kano State.
"The government believed the arrest of the former PCACC Chairman is linked to several high-profile criminal investigations and ongoing prosecutions involving some politically exposed persons from Kano State," Maude stated. He emphasized that Rimin-Gado is "believed to possess critical, firsthand, and well-documented evidence" against these individuals.
A Warning Against Destabilisation
The Attorney General issued a stern warning, suggesting that "certain political elements operating from outside the State" were attempting to exploit federal institutions to undermine Kano's peace and governance. He questioned the deployment of massive security forces for a civilian arrest instead of addressing violent crime hotspots within the state.
"The timing and manner of his arrest raise grave fears that the action is calculated to obstruct, destabilise, or compromise the integrity of those sensitive investigations and prosecutions," Maude argued. He reiterated that Kano remains peaceful and governed by the rule of law, and any action threatening this would be firmly rejected.
The Kano State Government has now made specific demands from the Nigeria Police Force:
- Immediate explanation of the legal basis for the arrest and transfer to Abuja.
- Strict compliance with constitutional provisions and due process.
- The threat of legal action if Rimin-Gado is not released promptly.
This incident places a spotlight on the often-tense relationship between state anti-corruption efforts and federal security agencies, especially when investigations touch powerful political figures. The coming days will be crucial as pressure mounts on the police to provide transparency regarding this controversial detention.
