The Nigeria Police Force Zone 1 Headquarters in Kano has formally invited Bello Ado Bayero, the District Head of Tarauni and son of the late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, for questioning over his alleged involvement in a N70 million land fraud currently under investigation.
The invitation comes amid intensified investigations into what sources describe as a “coordinated land scam network” that reportedly defrauded a Kano-based businessman of the substantial sum.
Yahaya Mohammed Uba, alleged to be the key figure in the transaction, has already been arrested and is in custody at the Zone 1 Police Headquarters in Kano.
DSP Husseini Abdullahi, spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Zone 1 Headquarters, told Chronicles Reporters that all individuals named in the complaint, including Bello Ado Bayero, have been invited for questioning in connection with the case. He emphasized that the investigation is being handled with the highest level of professionalism.
“I can assure you that the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) is a highly professional officer committed to the cause of justice. The head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is equally involved, and the AIG does not treat matters of this nature lightly,” Abdullahi said.
Preliminary investigations indicate financial transfers totaling N60 million from Yahaya Mohammed Uba’s account into an account allegedly linked to Bello Ado Bayero. This development reportedly prompted the decision to invite the district head for questioning.
A petition filed with the police identifies the alleged syndicate members as Bello Ado Bayero, Yahaya Mohammed Uba, Salisu Shuaibu, and an unnamed staff member of the Kano State Land Registry.
According to the complaint, the businessman, Alhaji Bashir Mohammed, was persuaded to purchase a plot of land in Darmanawa under Tarauni Local Government Area. On February 5, 2026, Yahaya Mohammed Uba allegedly sent his GTBank account details via WhatsApp, presenting himself as the rightful owner of the property. The purchase price was agreed at N70 million.
The next day, the full payment was reportedly transferred through the businessman’s wife’s account into Yahaya’s account. A document-signing meeting was scheduled for February 7.
However, in a dramatic turn of events, Yahaya allegedly informed the buyer that the land belonged not to him, but to District Head Bello Ado Bayero. When confronted, Yahaya reportedly claimed that traditional rulers often conduct land transactions through proxies. Investigators later discovered that the documents presented to the buyer were allegedly forged.
The land is also reportedly the subject of ongoing litigation before the Federal High Court in a matter involving Shuaibu Salisu and Mahmoud Muhammed.
Following these revelations, the businessman reportedly met with Bello Ado Bayero to demand a refund of his N70 million. The petition states that the district head allegedly failed to refund the amount, prompting a formal complaint to the police.
Police sources indicate that financial records are currently being scrutinized as investigators work to determine the extent of each suspect’s involvement in the alleged fraud.