ABUJA, Nigeria — The family of Bashir Hadejia has raised serious concerns over what they describe as unlawful detention orchestrated by the Nigerian police under the directive of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
The claims, made public by Bashir’s father, Umar Hadejia, suggest that the family has been held without formal charges or arrest warrants since September 30, 2024.
In a statement obtained by PRNigeria, Alhaji Umar Hadejia accused the Inspector General of Police of unlawfully detaining him and his five children — Bashir, Bello, Mahmud, Abubakar, and Ahmad—at the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) unit in Abuja.
He indicated that their detention followed orders from the Minister of State for Defence, with no clear legal basis.
“We have been unlawfully detained without any warrant of arrest or charges against us at the IRT unit in Abuja by the Inspector General of Police, under the directive of Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, since September 30, 2024,” Hadejia revealed.
The detentions came just after Bashir Hadejia had been granted bail in a separate case involving unfounded allegations.
According to Alhaji Hadejia, his son had been the target of accusations that were heavily circulated on social media, leading to police investigations.
However, the investigations reportedly found no evidence to support the charges, and Bashir was never formally prosecuted.
“The previously unfounded allegations against Bashir, propagated by the Inspector General of Police and Minister Matawalle, were proven false through police investigations, which found no grounds for charging Bashir,” Hadejia added.
“Despite securing a court order for Bashir’s release, the police have continued to detain my family and me unlawfully, without any reason given.”
Tension in Business Relations with Matawalle Alleged
The conflict between Bashir and Minister Matawalle appears to have roots in a previous business relationship between the two men.
Bashir had reportedly worked with Matawalle during his time as Governor of Zamfara State.
However, after Matawalle lost his bid for re-election in 2023, tensions allegedly grew when Bashir established a professional relationship with the new Governor, Dauda Lawal Dare.
PRNigeria reports that Bashir’s troubles began when armed men, allegedly acting on orders from the Defence Minister, raided his home and subjected him to a brutal beating before transferring him to the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
Bashir was later moved to the Aso Clinic for medical treatment due to concerns about his condition and subsequently handed over to the police.
Despite being granted bail and released on September 26, 2024, Bashir was re-arrested alongside his father and brothers just four days later.
Calls for Justice
As of now, neither the Inspector General of Police nor Minister Matawalle has publicly addressed the allegations of illegal detention.
Despite attempts by PRNigeria to reach out for comment, both parties have remained silent on the matter.
In his statement, Alhaji Hadejia expressed deep concern for the safety of his family, stating, “I fear for our lives and safety as we continue to be held without just cause.”
