Former attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, has given a detailed account of events leading to the apprehension of Katsina-born social critic, Mahdi Shehu.
Shehu was reportedly detained in Abuja by police officers on Tuesday, sparking a response from the beleaguered social critic’s legal representative, who accused Malami of orchestrating his client’s predicament.
Responding to the allegations in a press release regarding the arrest and detention, Malami’s lawyer, Barr. M. E. Sheriff, refuted the claims as false and deceptive.
Sheriff stated; “We write to clarify the record for the public benefit. Without prejudice to the ongoing police investigation, the true facts pertain to the complaint/petition which we submitted to the Inspector General of Police concerning allegations of extortion, criminal intimidation and attempted fraud by a syndicate utilising GSM numbers and email addresses.
“During the investigation, continuous communication between our clients and the syndicate revealed a designated “Room Number 9” at a hotel in Maitama, Abuja. “Upon reaching the hotel and the specified room number, Mahdi Shehu was discovered on-site with copies of documents provided and sent to our client by the syndicate.
“Among the retrieved documents were those supporting another petition concerning hacking and financial misconduct affecting Hajiya Aisha Abubakar Malami, with an alleged sum of over N19 million unlawfully withdrawn from Malami’s account.
“The investigation and all the documents recovered thus far are in possession of the police for verification by anyone interested. Therefore, we urge all to support and allow the police to conduct their investigation. The outcome will determine culpability and innocence. If Mahdi Shehu has any explanations regarding his arrest, he should provide them to the police, not the press or engage in a social media defamation campaign.”
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