The giant global media organization has also instituted an investigation into several petitions against Tanko, who was appointed editor in 2020, by some of the staff who have left the organization and others who are still in the service of the BBC Hausa.

SolaceBase gathered that the investigation was ordered by the Deputy CEO of BBC News and BBC News Global Director, Jonathan Munro, who has sent down a team from London to Abuja.

A credible source told SolaceBase that Tanko was suspended on Wednesday, but surprisingly turned in a resignation letter on Thursday that was rejected.

The source said the organization told him that it was not possible for him to resign while under suspension and being investigated.

‘’The resignation was rejected on the ground that it did not follow due process, that is, as a senior staff, he needs to give two months notice or pay two months’ salary in lieu of notice or vice versa if the organization is terminating his service, the source told SolaceBase.

According to Daily Nigerian, Mr Tanko confirmed his resignation from the BBC in an interview with the news platform.

The news platform, however, said Tanko declined further comment when prodded on the allegations of “maltreatment” by a former staffer.

SolaceBase’s effort to speak with the suspended editor was futile as his phone line was not connecting.

Ms Saleh, who is currently a Senior Digital Editor at TRT Africa, had alluded in a recent interview with Arewa24 that Mr Tanko had maltreated her while she was working under him at the BBC.

The interview drew controversy on social media after Arewa 24 pulled down the clip, raising suspicion of editorial compromise.

A source said a number of internal and external petitions were sent to the BBC headquarters in London, demanding an investigation into the allegations.

As Head of BBC Hausa, Mr Tanko led a team of journalists and senior journalists based in London and Abuja and in-the-field reporters in Nigeria, Niger, Ghana and Cameroon.

He was in charge of the editorial output of the service i.e four radio transmissions daily, twenty hours digital production (web + social) and weekday TV news bulletin.

Mr Tanko introduced various programmes such as Daga Bakin Mai Ita, Ku San Malamanku, Zamantakewa, Mahangar Zamani, Lafiya Zinariya, and Korona Ina Mafita, among other digital contents.

With a team of over 40 staff, the Hausa Service is the leading BBC language service in Africa with over 23 million weekly radio audiences and about 10 million weekly page views to its website