Family Blames Matawalle As Police Detain Bashir Hadejia, Father, Brothers In Abuja

The family of Bashir Hadejia have raised the alarm of their incarceration in Abuja since Monday, alleging that it was ordered by the Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle.

In a press release obtained by PRNigeria on Wednesday, Alhaji Umar Hadejia said the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun was aware that he and his children were being detained at the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) Unit.

The father informed the public that the whole family was arrested and taken into custody in the evening of September 30, 2024, without warrants or formal charges, just after Bashir was granted bail on September 26.

The statement reads: “l and my five children (Bashir, Bello, Mahmud, Abubakar and Ahmad) have been unlawfully detained since 30th September, around 6pm, at the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) Unit in Abuja.

“This action was taken by the Inspector General of Police under the directive of the Minister of State (Defence) Bello Matawalle, without any warrant of arrest and without any charge.

“The spurious allegations against Bashir by the Inspector General of Police and the Minister Matawalle, widely circulated in the social media, were found to be false because the Police investigations did not find any cause to charge Bashir to court.

“In spite of this, the Police did not release Bashir, which then forced us to go to court to secure his release and enforcement of his fundamental human rights. The court granted bail and ordered his release on September 5. The Police refused to release Bashir until September 25.

“I and my above-named children are still being illegally detained by the Inspector General of Police under the directive of the Minister of Defence (State) Bello Matawalle without warrant of arrest and any charge against us. I fear for our lives and safety.”

Bashir was, two months ago, arrested by officers from the Police Force Intelligence Department-Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) and Force Intelligence Department-Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS).

Federal prosecutors are accusing him of “treason, subversion against the state” and playing a role in the sponsorship of the nationwide hunger protests in the first week of August.

But the Hadejias demand their release pending the determination of the originating summons, having secured an order of fundamental human rights from the Federal High Court, Abuja. Justice Emeka Nwite granted the ex parte application by Barr. Efut Okoi.

Joined in the suit are the IG of Police, Bello Matawalle, the State Security Service (SSS), the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).