Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, AbdulKarim Maude (SAN), has condemned the decision of the state’s Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, to withdraw officers from the Independence Day parade at the Sani Abacha Stadium, describing it as a grave security risk and a direct affront to the authority of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

According to Maude, the absence of police personnel at such a critical national event not only created unnecessary tension but also amounted to a deliberate attempt to undermine the statutory powers of the Governor, who is constitutionally recognized as the Chief Security Officer of the state.

Governor Yusuf, visibly displeased with the incident, had already passed a vote of no confidence on CP Bakori and called for his immediate removal, citing sabotage and disregard for constituted authority.

Reacting to the controversy, the Attorney General stressed that the Commissioner of Police breached the Governor’s executive powers by failing to carry out lawful directives relating to public order and security. He warned that such insubordination exposed the Governor to security threats and weakened the operational chain of command in the state.

Maude further clarified that while the Police Force is a centralized institution under Section 214 (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the law also empowers state Governors under Section 215 to issue lawful directives to Commissioners of Police on matters concerning public safety and order, except where such directives are overridden by the President.

“The CP stands at a critical junction of dual accountability—to the Inspector General of Police and to the Governor. However, in this case, his refusal to honor the Governor’s directive during a national day parade has raised serious concerns about sabotage, constitutional breach, and professional misconduct,” the AG stated.

He emphasized that the constitutional framework requires the CP, when in doubt or conflict, to escalate such matters to the President for guidance. By failing to do so, and instead acting unilaterally, CP Bakori “arguably violated the delicate constitutional balance between state and federal authority,” Maude asserted.

“This incident goes beyond a mere parade boycott; it reflects the unresolved constitutional debate about the accountability of state Commissioners of Police, its implications for governance, security management, and Nigeria’s fragile federal balance,” he added.

The Attorney General concluded that Governor Yusuf’s protest and call for the removal of CP Bakori were not only justified but also reinforced by the constitutional breach evident in the Kano Independence Day episode.