Yusuf Barnabas Bala, also known as Bantex, a former deputy governor of Kaduna State, is dead.

VAM News gathered that Bantex died in the early hours of Sunday.

He was the deputy governor between 2015 and 2019, the first tenure of Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

He had stepped aside to seek the senate seat for Kaduna South Senatorial district but he lost.

Confirming the tragic incident, El-Rufai said: “In the midst of trying times, I have received with utter sadness news of the departure of my friend and brother, His Excellency Barnabas Yusuf Bala (Bantex).”