Outrage has been generated by the security personnel’s detention of Alhaji Bashir Hadejia, a former personal assistant to Bello Matawalle, the minister of state for defense and former Governor of Zafara state.
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Upon the revelation that the suspect had connections to influential politicians and government officials, some Nigerians took to social media to ask for an explanation from the authorities.
Bashir Hadejia, who was a special adviser to Bello Matawalle when he was the Governor of Zamfara State, was arrested on Monday.
A search warrant issued to the Nigeria Police Force, FCT Police Command, dated August 12, 2024, showed that the suspect was accused of “treason and subversion against t
Shortly after his arrest became public, photos and videos of the suspect with prominent politicians and celebrities emerged on social media.
Bashir Gold bar merchant
In a single video clip, which had been seen by X (formerly known as Twitter), Hadejia was seen holding up what looked to be a gold bar with the picture of Muammar Ghadaffi, a former leader of Libya.
He was heard saying, “One tonne, total 24 carats, 1kg,” in the 14-second footage. We have 50 kilograms in each box, for a total of one tonne.
On the table, there were about thirteen boxes containing the gold bars. The labels on the boxes stated, “Central Bank of Libya.”
Hadejia and Matawalle presented a number gold bars to Muhammadu Buhari, the former president in 2020. The photo has become popular ever after the arrest was made public. Ahmad, an aide to Buhari, also shared photos showing Hadejia appearing to assist Matawalle in presenting the gold to the president.
The Visual described thus: “President Muhammadu Buhari last night at his residence, the State House, Abuja, received Governor of Zamfara State, Dr. Bello Matawalle accompanied by Alhaji Bashir Hadejia. Gov. Matawalle was at the State House to present some gold bars and other precious stones mined in his State.
Bashir Hadejie was also seen in another picture having a handshake with President Bola Tinubu.
Bashir the villa boy
Hadejia was nicknamed ‘Villa boy’ because of his close connection to the Villa.
The pictures seen online shows Hadejia standing side-by-side with the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru.
He was also seen in several photos facilitating a meeting between the Arewa Consultative Forum and northern politicians with President Tinubu.
A popular Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Kwam 1 in his Timeless album dedicated a track to extol Hadejia.
In the track, KI described Hadejia as his friend and that of former governor of Jigawa and now Minister of Defence, Badaru.
“I am going to the North, from Jigawa to Abuja. I am going there to see a distinguished personality, Alhaji Bashir Hadejia is the husband of Aisha, the child of Mohammed Ali, a very big man. He is K1 de ultimate’s friend. He is an ally of Jigawa State calculator, friend to governor Badaru,” Ayinde sang.
Tweets query Matawalle’s connection with Bashir.
Reacting to the arrest, a tweet, Alade Ayeniromo, wondered why security operatives were not giving the public adequate information on the arrest.
He wrote, “Why is Bashir Hadeija so confidential? Why can’t we have access to the full story, there’s no time names of terrorist financiers have been fully published and they get punished. Omor, Vagabond movie explain so many things around political environment.”
