Fresh controversy has engulfed the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) following allegations that its Registrar-General, Ishaq Hussaini Magaji, appointed a cleric previously arrested over alleged Boko Haram links as interim manager of a Kaduna-based religious foundation.
At the centre of the dispute is the Al-Manar Education Foundation, a registered religious trust, whose governance structure was abruptly altered by the CAC in September 2025. Critics of the commission’s action argue that the decision raises serious questions of judgment, due process and regulatory overreach, particularly against the backdrop of Nigeria’s intensified fight against terrorism.
Court documents before the Federal High Court allege that the CAC, acting under Magaji’s authority, issued a letter dated September 10, 2025, suspending the entire board of trustees of Al-Manar Education Foundation and appointing interim managers handpicked by the commission. The filings contend that the trustees were neither issued notices nor granted a hearing, despite the fact that their tenure had not expired.
The most contentious aspect of the intervention is the appointment of Dr. Nazifi Yunus as interim manager. Yunus was reportedly arrested and prosecuted by security agencies between 2013 and 2014 over alleged links to Boko Haram. While there is no public record of a conviction or formal exoneration, security and governance analysts insist that the history alone should have triggered caution, especially in relation to the oversight of a religious institution and its finances.
Legal sources familiar with the matter describe the CAC’s action as a breach of the principles of natural justice and an excessive use of regulatory powers. Further affidavits before the court allege that the commission wrote to the foundation’s banks directing changes to account signatories, a move that effectively altered control over the organisation’s funds. Observers argue that such steps, if established, would ordinarily require a court order and fall outside the CAC’s supervisory remit.
Community leaders associated with Al-Manar Education Foundation have also criticised the development, claiming they were neither consulted nor formally informed before the trustees were removed. They describe the action as an imposition that undermines the autonomy of faith-based and non-profit organisations.
Adding to the controversy are allegations contained in court filings that Yunus has close family ties with Magaji, a development that has fuelled concerns about conflict of interest. Although personal relationships are not unlawful, governance experts warn that regulators must avoid actions that create even the appearance of impropriety, particularly in sensitive cases involving public trust and national security concerns.
The matter has reportedly attracted attention at the highest levels, amid claims that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation had previously intervened in related CAC issues. Despite this, Magaji is said to have defended the commission’s actions in media engagements, a stance critics describe as combative and dismissive of legitimate concerns.
The CAC has yet to issue a formal response addressing the specific allegations raised in the court proceedings. However, insiders admit that the case has begun to erode confidence in the commission’s leadership and institutional credibility.
While no judicial findings have been made and all parties remain innocent under the law, civil society groups insist that the unfolding controversy highlights deeper governance challenges within regulatory institutions. As one advocate observed, “Regulation must be anchored on transparency and restraint; anything less risks undermining public confidence.”
The court is expected to determine the legality of the CAC’s actions in the coming months.