The arrest by security operatives of Alhaji Bashir Hadejia, a former aide to the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has sparked outrage.
Some Nigerians have reacted to the incident by calling for explanations from authorities after videos and photos were released suggesting the suspect has links to senior government officials and politicians.
Hadejia, who served as special adviser to Matawalle when he was governor of Zamfara state, was arrested on Monday.
According to a search warrant dated August 12, 2024 and issued to the Nigeria Police, FCT Police Command, the suspects were accused of “treason and subversion against the state.”
Shortly after the arrest was made public, photos and videos appeared on social media featuring the suspect alongside prominent politicians and celebrities.
Bullion Merchant
One video clip seen by Saturday Punch on X (formerly Twitter) showed Hadejia showing off what appeared to be a gold bar bearing a portrait of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
In the 14-second video, he can be heard saying: “One tonne, 24 carats in total, one kilo. There’s 50 kilos in each box, one tonne in total.”
On the table were about 13 boxes full of gold bars, labeled “Central Bank of Libya.”
In a photograph that has gone viral since his arrest was made public, Hadejia was seen accompanying Matawalle to present former president Muhammadu Buhari with a gold bar in 2020.
Bashir Ahmad, an aide to President Buhari, also shared a photo showing Hadejia assisting Matawalle in handing over the money to the President.
The post read, “President Muhammadu Buhari last night received Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State and Alhaji Bashir Hadejia at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Governor Matawalle was at the Presidential Villa to present them with gold bars and other jewellery mined in the state. Let the images explain.”
In another photo, he was seen shaking hands with President Bola Tinubu.
Villa Boy
Saturday Punch learnt that Hadejia was nicknamed “Villa Boy” because of his close association with Villa.
In photos shared online, Hadejia was seen standing alongside the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru.
He has also been seen in several photographs mediating President Tinubu’s meetings with the Arewa Consultative Forum and northern politicians.
Popular Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Kwam1, dedicated a song in his praise of Hadejia on his album, Timeless.
In the song, KI described Hadejia as his friend and also a friend of Badaru, a former governor of Jigawa State and now Minister of Defence.
“I am going north from Jigawa to Abuja. I am going to meet notable people. Alhaji Bashir Hadejia is the husband of Aisha, Mohammed Ali’s child, a very great man. He is a friend of K1 de Ultimate. He is an ally of the Accountant of Jigawa State and a friend of Governor Badaru,” Ayinde sang.
Twitter users question Matawalle’s connections
Reacting to the arrest, Twitter user Arede Ayenilomo questioned why security agents were not providing the public with sufficient information about the arrests.
He wrote: “Why is Bashir Khadeijah’s secret a secret? Why can’t we know the full story? There is no time for the names of terror financiers to be fully published and for them to be punished. Omor and Vagabond films explain a lot about the political situation.”
Another X user, AY Rafindadi, said that had the arrests been made outside the country, arrests and confessions would have followed.
“In any sane country, the arrest of Bashir Hadeja could be one of the biggest arrests in a decade given how well connected he is to former and current senior government officials such as Bello Matawalle, who employed him as his assistant some years ago,” he said.
But New York-based journalist Franklin Udeh claimed Hadejia was being persecuted by his former boss.
Udeh, who posted a copy of the arrest warrant, explained that Hadejia was abducted from his Abuja home on Monday on the orders of Matawalle.
“He is also accused of enlisting me in a plot to overthrow the government. Military officials who abducted Mr. Hadejia on Monday sprayed a substance believed to be powdered tear gas in his face, rendering him unconscious, before taking him to an unknown location,” he wrote.
He said Hadejia was also accused of possessing gold bars believed to have been stolen from Libya’s central bank.
“This is not treason, terrorism or theft of gold. This is just a war between former friends, with one side using his position in the government to blackmail the other,” he added.
Ude declined to comment on the matter when contacted by this newspaper’s reporter.
However, Twitter user Abass Nagwari said the arrest should not be linked to Matawalle.
“No one is claiming that Bashir Hadeja was not a former aide to Matawalle. But why are you avoiding new facts? Matawalle fired Hadeja over his criminal activities. And it is the same Bello Matawalle who ensured Hadeja’s arrest. People should think before they speak,” he said.
A Twitter poll conducted by Online Punch on Saturday showed growing calls among Nigerians for the government to investigate those connected to the suspects.
More than 93 percent of respondents called on the federal government to share more information about Hadejia’s arrest and his connections to senior government officials.
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Ms Josephine Ade, referred our reporter to the Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi.
A police spokesman confirmed the suspect’s arrest.
“He has been detained,” he added.
At the time of publication, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, could not be reached for comment.
Badal’s personal assistant on media and public relations, Mati Ali, did not answer calls and is yet to respond to messages sent to him on the matter.
Aide defends minister
Meanwhile, Suleiman Shuaib, an assistant to the minister of state for defence, denied any links between his boss and the suspects.
“I have never met Mr Hadejia and do not know him personally,” Shuaib said, expressing concern about the principal’s ties to Mr Hadejia.
He noted that Hadejia was “photographed with other notables including President Bola Tinubu, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, whose names have not been made public.”
Shuaib stressed that Matawalle and Hadejia had no relationship and it was “unnecessary” to link the two.
“If Hadejia is found guilty he should face justice,” he added.
Northern Forum calls for investigation
Spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum, Abdul Azeez Suleiman, expressed deep concern over Hadejia’s arrest, describing the revelation as “appalling” and a threat to the stability of Nigeria.
According to him, the suspected activities uncovered, ranging from gun smuggling and rebellion to cross-border crime, pose grave danger to the sovereignty of the nation.
He said: “We have never discussed the matter at the Northern Elders Forum level, but as Nigerians of conscience, I can categorically state that the revelations surrounding the arrest of Bashir Hadejia are horrifying and the nefarious acts allegedly uncovered by his arrest pose serious threats not only to the sovereignty of our great nation but also to the very fabric of our society.”
Suleiman commended the Nigerian security agencies for arresting Hadejia, saying the success in unravelling such a complex criminal network was commendable.
But he warned that the arrests were just the beginning and stressed the need for more drastic measures. “This threat has deep roots and the Nigerian authorities must act decisively,” he said.
Suleiman expressed concern over reports that Hadehia has ties to international criminal organisations, including those involved in smuggling stolen gold from Libya and supporting terrorism. He described these activities as “an affront to our country’s sovereignty and a violation of peace” and warned that such criminal organisations do not respect borders.
Particularly troubling, Suleiman said, was Hadejia’s alleged role in sponsoring protests such as #EndBadGovernance, which sparked violence in the north. He accused criminal elements of exploiting legitimate grievances to create instability. “It is shocking to discover that individuals involved in the devastating outcome of recent protests in northern Nigeria have ulterior motives,” he said.
He also noted Hadejia’s disturbing links with top politicians, including a former DSS chief, and called on government to take firm action.
Chairman, Arewa Youth Advisory Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, commended security operatives for their efforts in making the arrests.
Speaking exclusively to our correspondent in Kaduna on Friday, Shettima described the arrests as a positive development in the fight against terrorism, stressing the need for thorough investigation and prosecution as a deterrent.
He said: “Well, we are looking at this as a positive thing, although under Nigerian law he remains a suspect.”
“They need to do a proper investigation and, if he is ultimately found to be flawed, make sure he acts as a deterrent and lets others know we are not a banana republic.”
“We live in a country where law and order prevails, so young people and people who think they can do anything and get away with it will always find that there are bad days.
“They weren’t even together when he was minister. His photos are displayed all over Aso Rock Villa. In fact, he has the nickname ‘Villa Boy’.”
Shettima also commented on Hadejia’s relationship with Defence Minister Bello Matawalle, saying association with a prominent person does not mean collusion.
He stressed that Hadejia should be held responsible alone and that if any collaborators are found they should be brought to justice.
National chairman of the Comrades Movement Northern Nigeria, Jabiru Yaro, said it was a sensitive issue.
“The incident should be investigated and the true circumstances should be revealed,” he added.
