The arrest of Alhaji Bashir Hadejia, a former aide to the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has sparked widespread outrage.

Hadejia, who served as a special adviser to Matawalle during his tenure as Zamfara State Governor, was arrested on Monday by security operatives.

According to a search warrant issued to the Nigeria Police Force, FCT Police Command, dated August 12, 2024, Hadejia is accused of “treason and subversion against the state.”

The arrest has raised significant concerns, with many questioning the nature of the charges and the circumstances surrounding the case.

Shortly after news of his arrest broke, photos and videos of Hadejia with prominent politicians and celebrities began circulating on social media.

In one particular video clip, seen by Saturday Punch on X (formerly Twitter), Hadejia is seen displaying what appears to be a gold bar with the image of former Libyan leader Muammar Ghadaffi.

In the 14-second video, Hadejia is heard saying, “One tonne, total 24 carats, 1kg. In each box, we have 50kg; in total, we have one tonne.”

Thirteen boxes, labelled “Central Bank of Libya,” were seen filled with gold bars on the table.

A photo that has since gone viral shows Hadejia accompanying Matawalle in presenting some gold bars to the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari, in 2020.

Bashir Ahmad, an aide to Buhari, also shared photos on social media showing Hadejia assisting Matawalle in presenting the gold to the former president.

The post read, “President Muhammadu Buhari last night at his residence, the State House, Abuja, received Governor of Zamfara State, Dr. Bello Matawalle accompanied by Alhaji Bashir Hadejia. Gov. Matawalle was at the State House to present some gold bars and other precious stones mined in his State. Describe the visuals.”

He was also seen in another picture having a handshake with President Bola Tinubu.

According to Punch, Hadejia was nicknamed ‘Villa boy’ because of his close connection to the Villa.

In pictures seen online, Hadejia was standing side-by-side with the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru.

He was also seen in several photos facilitating a meeting between the Arewa Consultative Forum and northern politicians with President Tinubu.

A popular Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, also known as Kwam 1, dedicated a track to extol Hadejia in his Timeless album.

In the track, KI described Hadejia as his friend and that of former governor of Jigawa and now Minister of Defence, Badaru.

“I am going to the North, from Jigawa to Abuja. I am going there to see a distinguished personality, Alhaji Bashir Hadejia is the husband of Aisha, the child of Mohammed Ali, a very big man. He is K1 de ultimate’s friend. He is an ally of Jigawa State calculator, friend to governor Badaru,” Ayinde sang.

Northern Forum Demands Probe

A spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, has expressed deep concern over the recent arrest of Bashir Hadejia, a former aide to the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

The revelations surrounding Hadejia’s alleged involvement in criminal activities have sent shockwaves through the nation, with Suleiman describing them as “appalling” and a significant threat to Nigeria’s stability.

While the NEF has yet to discuss the matter at the organizational level, Suleiman, speaking in his personal capacity, did not mince words.

Hadejia’s arrest has reportedly unveiled a complex network of crimes, including gun-running, treason, and cross-border activities linked to international criminal syndicates.

Suleiman commended the Nigerian security agencies for apprehending Hadejia and unravelling such a complex criminal network but warned that the arrest was just the beginning.

“The roots of this menace run deep, and Nigerian authorities must act decisively,” Suleiman emphasized, stressing the need for a comprehensive investigation to dismantle the entire network.

Of particular concern, according to Suleiman, were Hadejia’s alleged connections to international criminal syndicates, including smuggling stolen gold from Libya and supporting terrorism

He described these activities as “an affront to our sovereignty and an invasion of our peace,” warning that criminal networks like these do not respect national borders.

Adding to the alarm, Suleiman pointed to Hadejia’s alleged role in sponsoring protests such as the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations, which led to violence in the North.

He criticized how criminal elements exploited legitimate grievances to sow instability.

“It is shocking to learn that anyone connected to the devastations of recent protests in northern Nigeria had ulterior motives,” he stated.

Furthermore, Suleiman raised concerns about Hadejia’s reported connections with powerful political figures, including a former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), and urged the government to take decisive action..