Controversy has continued to trail the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Ishaq Hussaini Magaji, following allegations over his handling of the Al-Manar Education Foundation, a Kaduna-based religious trust.
Critics say Magaji’s decision to appoint Dr. Nazifi Yunus as interim manager of the foundation reflects poor judgment, citing Yunus’s past arrest and prosecution by security agencies between 2013 and 2014 over alleged links to Boko Haram. Although there is no public record of a conviction or formal exoneration, analysts argue that the appointment raises serious risk and perception concerns at a time Nigeria is intensifying efforts against terrorism.
Court documents filed at the Federal High Court allege that the CAC, acting under Magaji’s authority, issued a letter dated 10 September 2025 suspending Al-Manar’s entire board of trustees and replacing them with interim managers selected by the commission. The filings claim the trustees were removed without notice or a hearing, despite their tenure not having expired.
Sources familiar with the case describe the action as a violation of natural justice and an overreach of the CAC’s regulatory powers. Further affidavits allege that letters were sent to the foundation’s banks to change account signatories, effectively redirecting access to its funds. Legal observers say such steps, if proven, would exceed the CAC’s supervisory mandate and require a court order.
The appointment of Yunus has drawn the strongest backlash. Security analysts say his past alone should have prompted caution, especially regarding oversight of a religious institution’s finances. Community leaders linked to Al-Manar also claim they were neither consulted nor informed before the changes were made, describing the decision as an imposition that undermined their autonomy.
Court filings further allege that Yunus has close family ties to Magaji, raising concerns about conflict of interest. While personal relationships are not unlawful, governance experts warn that regulators must avoid situations that create the appearance of impropriety.
The controversy has intensified amid reports that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation had previously intervened in related CAC matters. Despite this, Magaji has reportedly defended his actions in media interviews, a posture critics describe as confrontational.
The CAC has not formally addressed the specific allegations in the court filings. Insiders, however, say the case is already damaging the commission’s credibility. Observers stress that no findings of guilt have been made and that the courts will determine the legality of the CAC’s actions. Still, civil society groups warn that the allegations point to deeper governance concerns. As one advocate put it, “Power without restraint is not regulation; it is capture.”