Nigerian security operatives have arrested an influential northern businessman, Bashir Hadeja, over alleged treason, gun running and other trans-border crimes.
Hadeja was arrested following information that he smuggled large caches of weapons into the country alongside large bars of gold believed to were suspected stolen from the Central Bank of Libya.
The suspect, who hails from Kaduna State, arrested over alleged subversive activities against government. He is also being accused of money laundering and other transnborder crimes.
“Bashir Hadeja, who traded dangerous weapons along with gold as cover-up, was also accused of being involved in aiding terrorism and other forms of criminality in the northern states of Nigeria along with his sponsors mostly from the northern states with few politicians of Southern extractions,” the report said.
“Responding to sustained interrogations by security, the suspect also confessed to sponsoring a large number of youths who participated in the just concluded #EndBadFovernance Protests in Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa and Abuja.
“He also confessed to sponsoring the attack on Jigawa state APC headquarters.
“The suspect was also found with incriminating documents of impersonation, including tracking documents of high profile personalities and an international passport of the Republic of Vanuatu, which will expire on the 14th of September, 2030.”
During the investigation, a video showing the suspect displaying bars of gold carrying Gaddafi’s statue worth one tone believed to have been stolen from the Libyan Central Bank was also seen.
“The suspect is currently cooperating on the investigation, opening up to name his sponsors and other allies, including a former director of the Department of State Security Service, DSS,” the report added.
