Police Harassment and Intimidation: Nigerian Businessman Cries Out
A Nigerian businessman, Bashir Hadejia, has raised the alarm over alleged police harassment and intimidation, following the arrest and detention of his son and five siblings without justifiable cause.
According to Hadejia, his son was arrested and detained alongside his siblings on Monday, with no charges filed against them. This is not the first time Hadejia has faced police harassment, as he was arrested in early August by the Force Intelligence Department-Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) and the Force Intelligence Department-Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS) over alleged "treason and subversion against the state."
Hadejia was also accused of sponsoring a recent hunger protest in some parts of the country. However, he has since secured an order from a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to enforce the fundamental human rights of his family. The court order was granted by Justice Emeka Nwite, who also granted an ex parte application by Hadejia’s counsel, Efut Okoi.
Despite the court order, Hadejia’s son remains detained, with the police refusing to release him until September 25. Hadejia has expressed fear for his life and the safety of his children, who are still being illegally detained by the Inspector-General of Police under the directive of the Minister of Defence (State) Bello Matawalle.
The allegations against Hadejia’s son were found to be false, as the police investigations themselves did not find any cause to charge him to court. Despite this, the police have refused to release him, forcing Hadejia to take his family to court to secure their release and enforce their fundamental human rights.
The case highlights the ongoing concerns over police harassment and intimidation in Nigeria, with many citizens expressing fear for their safety and human rights. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether the authorities will take steps to address the concerns and ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals involved.