Shehu Mahdi: Despite Court Orders, Police Detain Ailing Katsina Activist over Whistle-blowing
A Katsina State-born activist, Mahdi Shehu, is still in the custody of the Nigerian Police Force, despite a court order mandating his immediate release.
Mahdi Shehu, 62, PRNigeria gathered was first arrested and detained, last year, for 11 day, between November and December, on the order of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.
He was arrested by operatives of the IGP Monitoring Unit, following allegations of corruption and misappropriation of funds, running into several billions of naira, against Governor Aminu Bello Masari; Secretary to the Katsina State Government, Alh. Mustapha Inuwa; other top government officials and contractors, working with the State Government.
It was gathered that sequel to an order made by the FCT High Court, Shehu, on December 18, was released to enable him attend a court hearing.
The High Court, while delivering judgment in the suit, declared the applicant’s arrest and detention as unconstitutional and unlawful. It awarded N5mn as damages against the Nigeria Police and the IGP himself.
But the Police and IGP Adamu who are yet to pay the said damages, rearrested the Katsina State-born businessman, on 16 February.
The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo, it was learnt, again ordered IGP Adamu, and the FCT Police Commissioner, to immediately release Alh. Shehu from detention, penultimate Monday.
“The order for the release/bail of the applicant was made in Suit No: PHC/ABJ/CS/208/21 between Alhaji Muhammad Mahdi Shehu Vs. IGP and COP FCT-Abuja pursuant to an exparte application for interim reliefs brought by counsel for the Applicant, Mustapha I. Abubakar, Esq. and failure of the Respondents to produce the Applicant before the Court as earlier ordered by the Court,” part of a release issued by Mahdi Shehu’s lawyer, on March 1, reads.
A relative of the embattled business mogul, ‘blasted’ the Police Chief and his men for flagrantly disobeying court orders.
He said: “It is apparently out of sheer wickedness that our brother and eminent philanthropist Alhaji Mahdi Shehu is still been held hostage and detained illegally on the order of IGP Adamu.”
The aggrieved relative disclosed that their arrested kinsman, who is battling with some health challenges, has been prevented by the Police from taking his medication and other essential drugs.
By PRNigeria
