- Safiu Kehinde
Former Nigerian lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has expressed his view on the arrest on the arrest of Bashir Sa’idu, former Chief of Staff to ex-Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Sani, in a post on his official X handle on Thursday, recalled how he often warned members of El-Rufai’s cabinet against lawlessness and unlawful persecution.
He recounted how journalists, activists, religious leaders, and community leaders in South Kaduna were on many occasions arrested, arraigned, and imprisoned.
Sani accused the El-Rufai’s administration of using the police and courts for their own political interest- an act which he claimed has turned table with the arrest and arraignment of Sa’idu.
“A member of the cabinet in the former administration In kaduna state is angry that one of their colleagues has been arrested and detained.
“I recall how we used to warn them against lawlessness and persecution when they were in office.During their time,Journalists,activists,Union leaders,Muslim religious leaders and community leaders from Southern Kaduna were on many occasions arrested,taken to magistrate courts and imprisoned.Midat Joseph,Luka Biniyat,Jacob Dickson were some of them.There were many instances of arrest of people who criticised their Government on social media like Steven Kefas.
“They used the police and the courts for their own political interest.They abused power and now the table has turned.Power is transient!” Shehu wrote.
According to report, Sa’idu was that the ex-CoS was arrested, arraigned and detained for various charges of corruption and money laundering.
The ex-Kaduna Chief of Staff was allegedly involved in N4 billion money laundering case, as well as alleged theft and criminal conversion of N244 million, among others.
His arrest came u dear the heels of Kaduna State House of Assembly’s recent investigations on monies expended and contracts awarded between 2015 and 2023.
The state assembly’s report had found Sai’du wanting and the report of the investigation was forwarded to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He was arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Rigasa, Igabi local government of Kaduna state on Tuesday.
Magistrate Muhammad Lawal Musa had ordered that Sai’idu be remanded at the Kaduna Central Prison.
He adjourned the case to January 21, 2025 for further hearing.