The New Nigeria People’s Party has condemned what it described as persistent harassment and attempts to arrest Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa, the Director-General of Media and Publicity to the Kano State Government.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Kano, the NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, accused the Nigeria Police of disregarding a court injunction that restrains them from arresting Dawakin-Tofa. He alleged that the police actions were influenced by directives from Abuja.

Johnson explained that the attempts to arrest Dawakin-Tofa stemmed from a petition purportedly written by a former Kano State Governor and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, or individuals acting on his behalf.

“This repeated harassment, including the intimidation of his family, is a flagrant violation of the rule of law and an abuse of power,” Johnson said, adding that Dawakin-Tofa had gone into hiding to avoid unlawful arrest.

He described the situation as a dangerous precedent, accusing the APC-led government of undermining the country’s legal framework.
He said, “As the general public can see, the situation in Kano is deteriorating into outright lawlessness, marked by intimidation and abuse of power against state officials. This is coming from a party that claims it will attract foreign investors to Nigeria. Pray tell, how many investors will consider a society where the rule of law is blatantly disregarded by institutions meant to uphold it?”

Johnson referenced past controversies involving the police and the ruling party in Kano, particularly during the Emirate crisis, describing it as a smear on the Nigeria Police Force’s reputation.

The NNPP called on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene and prevent the Police Force from sliding into partisan politics.

“Dr. Egbetokun, a respected professional, must ensure the police uphold the rule of law and desist from further harassment of Dawakin-Tofa. His fundamental human rights are protected under the law and must be respected,” the statement added.