Some personnel of the Nigeria Police Force reportedly raided the residence of Lawal Mu’azu-Obah, a former aide to Niger State Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba, around 1:00am on Monday, beating and arresting him in the presence of his wife and young son, even though the officers involved initially admitted that they did not know the reason for his arrest, sources familiar with the incident have told SaharaReporters.
According to the sources, Mu’azu-Obah was asleep at home with his family when they were suddenly awakened by loud banging on the door.
The family reportedly became frightened, believing that armed robbers or hired killers had invaded their home.
Before Mu’azu-Obah could properly dress, the men allegedly broke down the door, moved through the living room and went straight to his bedroom.
“He was still naked when they entered the room,” a source familiar with the incident told SaharaReporters.
According to the source, one of the men took Mu’azu-Obah and his wife’s phones and began beating him.
“One of them took his phone, his wife’s phone and started beating him, saying ‘do you know who sent us that we were banging at the door and you could not open it?’”
Mu’azu-Obah reportedly explained that he was only trying to put on clothes so he could come outside and find out who was at the door.
“One of them then asked him to wear the jalabiya that he was holding on his hand. He even threatened to shoot him,” the source said.
The officers allegedly seized his laptop and a small phone before dragging him out of the house, throwing him into a vehicle and driving away.
It was only after they arrived at the Maitumbi Police Division in Minna that Mu’azu-Obah realised that the men were security personnel, according to the source.
He also reportedly discovered that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the station Alkali Kuta was part of the operation.
The DPO allegedly ordered Mu’azu-Obah to remove his shoes, stand at a particular spot and have photographs taken.
He was then asked whether he knew what he had done.
According to the source, Mu’azu-Obah told the DPO that he did not know what he had done and was hoping the police would explain the reason for his arrest.
“The DPO then said that he also didn’t know. He said he was only given a directive to pick him up, keep him in their cell and take him to State CID in the morning, when day had broken,” the source said.
Mu’azu-Obah was subsequently kept in the police cell until morning.
At about 10:00am, he was reportedly brought out, handcuffed and taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters, where the officers were expected to meet the Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, however, the CP was not available when they arrived.
After waiting for about two hours, the officers reportedly took Mu’azu-Obah to the office of a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DC).
The DC allegedly asked the officers why Mu’azu-Obah had been arrested.
“They said they didn’t know but that they were only told to bring him there,” the source said.
The DC then reportedly asked Mu’azu-Obah what he had done, but he also said he did not know.
The police officer allegedly requested his case file.
“They said there was no case file. They were only told to bring him there,” the source said.
The DC reportedly questioned the officers further, asking, “What are you then transferring him? What am I going to talk about?”
He then ordered the DPO of Maitumbi Police Division to come to the State CID personally.
About 30 minutes later, the DPO arrived and was again asked what offence Mu’azu-Obah had committed.
“He replied that he didn’t know. He said that he was only given a directive to pick him up and bring him there,” the source said.
The DPO reportedly told the DC that details of the matter could be obtained from Bala, identified as a Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the deputy governor.
The DC then called Bala and spoke with him on the telephone.
After the conversation, the DC reportedly showed Mu’azu-Obah a video in which an APC candidate visited Kuta and some people were heard shouting in Hausa what reportedly means “We don’t like you, we won’t support or vote for you.”
The DC then directed one of his officers to interrogate Mu’azu-Obah.
According to the source, Mu’azu-Obah told the officer that he would not make any statement until his lawyers arrived.
His lawyers later arrived and the questioning proceeded.
Mu’azu-Obah reportedly denied any involvement in the incident shown in the video.
“He told the DC that he didn’t know anything about the video. He only saw it on Facebook and shared it,” the source said.
The source said Mu’azu-Obah also told the police that he was not at the event, did not know the people in the video and had no knowledge of how the incident occurred.
“He wrote that he shared two videos, but he did not insult anybody, the video did not insult anybody and the content of the post did not insult anybody,” the source added.
According to the source, the police alleged that Mu’azu-Obah masterminded the incident, but he denied the allegation.
He was later asked to write an undertaking.
In the undertaking, he reportedly described himself as “a gentleman” who worked “for the peace, progress and prosperity of the society” and had “never involved” himself “in any act of public disturbance.”
He was subsequently granted bail.
By the time of his release, the Commissioner of Police had arrived.
Mu’azu-Obah was reportedly taken to the CP’s office, where the police chief described him as looking “gentle,” preached peace and directed his staff to profile him.
He was then allowed to return home.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Nigeria Police Force reportedly raided the residence of Mu’azu-Obah, allegedly assaulting and arresting him.
According to the source, the arrest may be connected to Mu’azu-Obah’s recent political activities, particularly his support for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the Shiroro Constituency seat, Dr Ibrahim Kuta.
Mu’azu-Obah previously worked in the Office of the deputy governor, where he defended his principal and the Niger State Government.