Security operatives have arrested former Governor Nasir el-Rufai’s Chief of Staff, Bashir Saidu, over alleged money laundering and sale of government properties, under the immediate past administration in Kaduna State. He was reported to have been arraigned before a Kaduna Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, where he was charged for the offences.
According to sources, armed policemen had laid an ambush near Saidu’s residence at Coronation Crescent, in Kaduna before arresting him at Rigachikun. He was subsequently taken to the Operation Fushin Kada office on Constitution Road for questioning, before being arraigned at the magistrate court in Rigasa.
Another source close to the ex-CoS said: “I wonder why Operation Yaki (Operation Fushin Kada) will involve itself in a clear case of political witch-hunt and repression against loyalists of former Governor el-Rufai.
“The operatives have abandoned their job of protecting the citizens against bandits and kidnappers to harass innocent citizens. It is strange that Operation Yaki is now preparing FIR and filing charges against perceived opponents of the governor.”
“Despite providing a statement denying involvement in money laundering and the sale of 12 government houses, Saidu was taken to court,” he added. After hearing the prosecution and defence counsel, Magistrate Muhammad Lawal Musa rejected the bail application and ordered Saidu’s remand at Kaduna Central Prison. The case was adjourned to January 21.
Recall that the Kaduna State House of Assembly had earlier in a report indicted El-Rufai for allegedly syphoning state government’s funds to the tune of over N423 billion.
Also, many of El-Rufai’s loyalists under his government are now facing charges either in the state or at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, EFCC, ICPC and the Code of Conduct Bureau over alleged fraud and unlawful acquisition of state resources to enrich themselves. When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Uba Sani, Ibraheem Musa, neither picked his calls nor responded to messages sent to his phone.
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