A Lagos-based Bureau-de-Change operator, Aminu Yerima, has raised the alarm over his alleged unlawful detention by the Nigeria Police Force.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Yerima was arrested on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at his residence in Nasarawa State by some policemen and thereafter taken to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking to our correspondent on Tuesday, the 62-year-old businessman said the police showed him a petition where he was accused of impersonating Lt. Col Nurudeen Yusuf, the Aide-De-Camp to President Bola Tinubu.
Yerima, who denied the allegations, said the petition did not bear anyone’s name while the police failed to provide the details of the petitioner.
He said, “I travelled to Nasarawa to visit my wife in November and on the second day of my visit, I was on my premises around 10 am when some policemen came in a Hilux van.
“They identified themselves and showed me a warrant of arrest, saying that my attention was needed in Abuja.
“I followed them and when we got to Abuja, they showed me a petition that I called somebody and introduced myself as the ADC to the President.
“And I asked if I could see the petitioner and they said no, that it was an intelligence report. And I asked them, ‘Intelligence report as how’? I asked how someone would write a petition against me and I won’t be allowed to know the petitioner to prove the allegations that I impersonated the ADC. So, they asked me to write a statement which I did under duress.”
Yerima however lamented that he had since been detained in the facility without being granted bail or given access to a lawyer.
The victim added that he was offered the condition of begging one in charge of the FIB before he could regain freedom.
He said, “I have been kept here without bail for three months. I told them to take me to court if they had anything against me, but they did not. They later told me that there was nothing they could do that the order was from above and. They also told me to beg the DIG in charge of FIB if I want to be freed. But I insisted they take me to court and prove their case there if they have anything against me. I have been dumped here for over three months without bail.”
The victim’s brother, Zakari, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone, said the ADC, when contacted, denied knowledge of the allegations.
Zakari told PUNCH Metro that, “We reached out to the Deputy Senate President and explained to him. He then called the ADC, who said he did not order anyone’s arrest.
“I also called the ADC personally and he told me he did not know anything about the allegation.
“We expected the police to call the petitioner or the witness so that we could know the facts. My brother is a businessman who is responsible and hardworking.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, could not be reached as calls made to his phone were not responded to. A text message sent to him had yet to be replied to as of the time this report was filed.
