Bashir Saidu, the former Chief of Staff to ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has been arrested by operatives of Operation Fushin Kada, the anti-banditry unit in the state, which was previously known as Operation Yaki.
Gists9ja reports that Saidu, a key political ally of El-Rufai, was apprehended on Tuesday on the outskirts of Kaduna State. While the precise reason for his arrest has not been officially disclosed, there are speculations that it may be linked to allegations of money laundering.
Sources close to Saidu, speaking anonymously to Daily Trust, have suggested that the arrest is politically motivated, with claims that the authorities are targeting El-Rufai’s associates. One such source, a former commissioner in El-Rufai’s administration, confirmed Saidu’s detention, calling it part of a deliberate attempt to intimidate political opponents.
“It is very true that he was arrested on Tuesday by the operatives and is now in a correctional facility. Is this the kind of democracy they want to play by using the Operation Yaki outfit to detain political opponents?” the source questioned, highlighting concerns about political abuse of power.
Further allegations were made that several of El-Rufai’s political allies are being targeted with charges at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
In response, a security source familiar with the situation suggested that the arrest of Saidu was in line with the Nigeria Police Force’s constitutional mandate to protect public funds and ensure accountability. According to the source, the arrest was not politically motivated, but rather an effort to investigate and prosecute individuals accused of committing offenses under the law.
“For this reason, it is not out of place for any police officer to carry out an arrest, investigate, and prosecute anyone accused of committing any offense, with or without a formal complaint, provided a prima facie case is established against the accused,” the security source said.
They added that it would be misleading to frame the arrest of Saidu by Operation Fushin Kada, which was initially set up to combat banditry and other criminal activities, as an effort to harass political figures, calling such claims a distraction from the serious allegations against Saidu.