Bashir Hadejia became a household name in Nigeria following his arrest by the police operatives from the Force Intelligence Department-Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), supported by operatives from the Force Intelligence Department-Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS).
A search warrant issued by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), FCT Police Command, dated August 12, 2024, showed that the suspect was accused of "treason and subversion against the state". He was also said to be behind the recent protest that rocked the country.
Information has since revealed that Hadejia was an aide to a former governor and pictures emerged showing him posing with prominent Nigerians, including former President Muhammadu Buhari, President Bola Tinubu and his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Daily Trust followed his story and found more about his background and many business and political connections.
His full name is Bashir Muhammad Umar Mai-Shadai Hadejia. His father was a former director with Nacaco Wire and Cable Company in Kaduna State.
Hadejia was born and brought up on Ohinoyi Road, Unguwar Rimi GRA, Kaduna, but his personal house is located on Kakino Road in the same Unguwar Rimi GRA. He is approximately 47 years old. Both his mother and father are from Hadejia, Jigawa State.
His father, Umaru Hadejia, as he was fondly called at Unguwar Rimi, was a close friend to a former Governor of Jigawa state, Alhaji Sule Lamido, and a stakeholder of the PDP from Dankoli Ward in Hadejia LGA. Although Bashir bears Hadejia as his surname, some residents of Hadejia claim that Bashir had never been to Hadejia.
A resident of Hadejia, Aminuddeen Musa Hadejia, said, "Though Bahsir is bearing Hadejia, he has ever visited Hadejia in his life. He was born and brought up in Kaduna and he spent part of his life in Kaduna, Kano and Abuja; but not Hadejia."
Why Bashir Hadejia is connected to many 'big' men
Aminudeen said, "Bashir is a kind of person who believes in hustling. He is highly connected with so many big men since he was in his 30s and presently. There is no big wig in Abuja or any other state that Bashir cannot connect you with. He has strong connections with so many top politicians and businessmen in Abuja and other big cities across the 36 states.
"This may not be unconnected with the nature of his business. Bashir has been into the business of solid minerals for several years. I believe it is the nature of his business that gives him the opportunity to connect with so many big wigs in the country."
Hadejia's connection with high ranking politicians and public office holders can be attested to from the several photographs he has taken with them, including former President Buhari, President Tinubu, Gbajabiamila; National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; and the two Ministers of Defence, Badaru Abubakar and Muhammad Bello Matawalle.
Link between Matawalle and Hadejia
A Zamfara-based politician, Muhmmad Ali Musa Gusau, who is familiar with Hadejia, said Bashir Hadejia was among the inner cabal members of former Governor of Zamfara State, Muhammad Bello Matawalle, recalling that, "Though he held no position under Matawalle, but he was called Kafi Gwamna because of his influence. His closeness to Matawalle was beyond imagination.
"Hadejia was among the few people that had unfettered access to Matawalle when he was governor. He could at any time connect you with him with or without appointment. But to be honest to both of them, we had the conviction that their relationship was purely for business purposes.
"The two are into the gold business and they need each other. I don't know what came between them later, but as far as I know, they are trading in gold. I do not know when they fell apart and what led to their falling apart."
Unanswered questions in respect to Hadejia's arrest
Comrade Bala Abdullahi, a renowned activist in Jigawa, raised some doubt on the allegations levelled against Hadejia.
He said, "I am not saying Hadejia is innocent for the crimes he is accused of, but there are a lots of questions that need answers before concluding that the man really committed the crimes.
"I said so because the video clip that features Hadejia displaying gold was recorded almost two years ago and the gold contained therein was fake. Why is it being displayed now? How did Hadejia escape security checks at both Libyan and Nigerian airports because I learnt he was arrested at his residence in Abuja? Why was he arrested now even though the video was recorded two years ago?
"He was also accused of gunrunning. Where are the specimens of the guns recovered from him? He was accused of having a hand in the just concluded hardship protest; tell me how can a benefactor of a government plot such a protest against it?
"To me, there are so many unanswered questions attached to the saga, and unless the federal government investigates this matter thoroughly, the truth of it would not be unravelled.
So, my advice to the government is to investigate this matter thoroughly and Hadejia should be allowed to speak and tell his own version of the story. Otherwise, we will not get to the root of this matter.
"This is a crucial matter that the government should not joke about. You see, gold mining has a strong link with banditry and, therefore, the government should set up a powerful investigative panel to investigate this issue with a view to unearthing the truth. I am confident that if this matter is handled by people with track records, we will surely get to the root of banditry and probably find a lasting solution to it because mining and banditry are going hand-in-hand."
Matawalle's former aide speaks
When contacted, an aide to the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Suleiman Shuaibu Shinkafi, dismissed allegations of a link between Matawalle and Hadejia, but affirmed a temporal business relationship between them.
He said, "Matawalle and Hadejia did business together but when the former realised that he was being cheated by the former he cut off the relationship.
"I never met Hadejia and I do not know him personally. It was after Matawalle cut off that relationship that Hadejia became an enemy to my principal. In fact, Hadejia is our political enemy. He used his influence and snatched our victory during the 2023 general elections.
"My principal has a lot of political enemies and they are the ones plotting all these against him in order to separate him from President Tinubu.
"Hadejia has also been photographed with other high-profile individuals, including the president, Gbajabiamila and Ribadu, but their names are not being mentioned.
"If Hadejia is found guilty, he should face the law. We want the government to probe this matter and we will continue to follow it to its logical conclusion."
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Northern elders demand probe
A spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, expressed concern over the arrest of Hadejia, describing the revelations as "appalling" and a threat to Nigeria's stability.
He said the alleged activities uncovered ranging from gunrunning to treason to cross-border crimes posed a significant danger to the nation's sovereignty.
He said, "We have not discussed the matter at the Northern Elders Forum level, but as a Nigerian with conscience, I can competently say that the revelations surrounding the arrest of Bashir Hadejia is appalling and the nefarious activities reportedly uncovered by the arrest pose a severe threat not only to the sovereignty of our great nation, but also to the very fabric of our society.
"The roots of this menace run deep, and Nigerian authorities must act decisively."
He is in custody - Police
Meanwhile, one week after the arrest of Alhaji Bashir Hadejia, the police were yet to make an elaborate comment.
Findings by one of our correspondents during the weekend revealed that the alleged gunrunner was being detained at the headquarters of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Abuja.
Sources within the police in the nation's capital told Daily Trust that the case was a "bit heavy" and delicate, hence the reason security operatives were being careful before telling Nigerians about the case.
A source said, "The man is involved in transnational crime; that means it is beyond Nigeria, so, it is important the case is handled with care. What I will say is that action first before talking."
When one of our correspondents approached the spokesman of NPF, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, he said, "He's in custody."
