BREAKING: Senate Issues Arrest Warrant for CAC Registrar General

Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)

BREAKING: Senate Issues Arrest Warrant for CAC Registrar General

The Senate Committee on Finance has issued a warrant of arrest for Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), following repeated instances of refusal to appear before the panel during the ongoing budget defence session with the Federal Ministry of Finance and its agencies.

The development escalates tensions between the legislature and the CAC, the agency responsible for registering and regulating companies, business names, and incorporated trustees in Nigeria—a key institution for corporate governance and investment facilitation.

According to Senator Sani Musa, Magaji has serially ignored invitations and official summons to clarify discrepancies in the CAC’s revenue accounts, often sending junior officers in his place instead. “The Registrar General has refused on multiple occasions to honour invitations by this committee,” Musa said, stressing the importance of transparency and accountability in agency operations.

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Senator Orji Uzor Kalu was reportedly the first to raise the issue, urging the panel to recommend Magaji’s removal from office to President Bola Tinubu if noncompliance persists. Meanwhile, Senator Adams Oshiomhole proposed withholding the CAC’s 2026 budget allocation until the Registrar General personally appears before the committee. He also recommended that the CAC be barred from spending its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) without prior approval from the National Assembly.

Lawmakers said the warrant is part of the Senate’s constitutional oversight powers, aimed at compelling officials to respond to lawful legislative requests and maintain financial accountability in government agencies. Observers note that failure to comply could trigger legal challenges or further escalation between the executive and legislative branches.

As of now, Magaji has not publicly responded to the Senate’s directive. The warrant is expected to be executed by the Nigeria Police Force or relevant authorities to ensure his presence before the committee for questioning.

The case underscores the Senate’s commitment to enforcing accountability within Nigeria’s public institutions while highlighting the critical role of the CAC in corporate regulation and national economic governance.