Ramadan Rice Row: Human Rights Lawyer Demands Accountability from Hisbah Leadership in Kano
A private legal practitioner and human rights advocate, Barrister Musa Abubakar Tudunwada, has announced plans to formally seek clarification from the Commander General of the Kano State Hisbah Board, Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, over the distribution of bags of rice donated by the Kano State Government to staff of the agency. ⚖️
The rice intervention was reportedly provided by the Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, as part of the annual Ramadan welfare support traditionally extended to ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) across the state.
Complaints of Alleged Unfair Distribution
According to Barrister Tudunwada, the decision to write the Hisbah leadership followed complaints from some personnel who alleged that the distribution process was not conducted fairly, claiming that certain staff members were denied their entitlements.
He disclosed that the planned letter would request a comprehensive explanation detailing how the rice allocation was shared within the board, with the aim of identifying any possible irregularities.
“We will formally write to Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa to request a detailed explanation of how the rice provided by the government was distributed within the Hisbah Board,” the lawyer stated.
He emphasized that the move is not intended to create controversy but rather to ensure transparency and accountability in the handling of welfare support meant for public servants.
Threat to Escalate Matter
Barrister Tudunwada further warned that failure by the Hisbah leadership to provide satisfactory clarification could lead to escalation of the matter.
He noted that if the board does not respond adequately or fails to offer a transparent account of the distribution process, he may file a formal petition before the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission to seek justice for affected staff.
The lawyer stressed that allegations of unfairness or lack of transparency should not arise within an institution tasked with promoting moral discipline and justice in society.
Details of Alleged Allocation Pattern
Meanwhile, a source familiar with the matter disclosed that Governor Yusuf had reportedly allocated about 900 bags of rice to the Hisbah Board for distribution among its personnel.
According to the source, the Commander General, the board’s chairman, and Deputy Directors General allegedly received 20 bags each, while Assistant Directors General were said to have received 18 bags each. Directors and Assistant Commanders were reportedly allocated one bag each, with units at the headquarters also receiving one bag per unit.
In addition, each local government headquarters of the board was said to have received five bags for distribution among staff.
Call for Fairness and Accountability
Barrister Tudunwada maintained that seeking clarification has become necessary to uphold fairness, transparency, and accountability in the management of public welfare interventions.
The development comes amid broader Ramadan support efforts by the Kano State Government, which recently distributed food items to various government agencies, ministries, and members of the public as part of its social welfare programme.