Bashir Saidu, former Chief of Staff to ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has been arrested by operatives of Operation Fushin Kada, the anti-banditry outfit in the state formerly known as Operation Yaki.
Saidu, a prominent political ally of El-Rufai, was apprehended on Tuesday on the outskirts of Kaduna State. While the specific reason for his arrest remains undisclosed, there are claims it may be connected to allegations of money laundering.
Sources close to Saidu who spoke with Daily Trust alleged that the arrest is politically motivated, accusing the authorities of targeting associates of El-Rufai.
A former commissioner in El-Rufai’s administration, who spoke anonymously, confirmed Saidu’s detention and described the arrest as a calculated effort 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.
The source also alleged that many of El-Rufai’s political allies were being targeted with charges at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), or Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
A security source familiar with the matter suggested that the arrest aligns with the Nigeria Police Force’s mandate to protect public funds and ensure accountability under the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Police Act.
He said, “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 offence, with or without a formal complaint, provided a prima facie case is established against the accused.
“So, to say that the arrest of Alhaji Bashir Sa’idu by Operation Fushin Kada, formerly Operation Yaki, which was established to hunt down bandits and other criminal elements, is now being used to harass political opponents, is not just preposterous but a red herring to divert the weighty allegations against the accused.”
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