Zamfara Gov’t Denies Appointing Bashir Hadejia, Ex-Aide To Defence Minister Matawalle, Arrested For Alleged Treason, Gun-Running
Notably, Hadejia, a former special adviser under ex-Governor Bello Matawalle, was recently arrested on serious charges including treason, gun-running, and transnational crimes.
The Zamfara State Government has issued a warning regarding a ‘fake document’ circulating online, which claims the appointment of Bashir Hadejia as ‘Technical Adviser on Mining’.
Notably, Hadejia, a former special adviser under ex-Governor Bello Matawalle, was recently arrested on serious charges including treason, gun-running, and transnational crimes.
Matawalle has faced recurring allegations of ties to terrorist groups. Notably, notorious terrorist Mohammed Bello Turji Kachalla, also known as Turji, has publicly claimed on multiple occasions that Matawalle supports terrorist activities in Nigeria’s Northwest region.
In a viral video from July, Turji specifically accused Matawalle of having links to bandits.
Meanwhile, the document from the Office of the Secretary to the Zamfara State Government has been declared a previous document circulating online about the alleged appointment as a forgery.
In a statement by Suleman Ahmad Tudu, Senior Special Assistant (Media) Office of the Secretary to State Government of Zamfara State, the government said, “Governor Dauda Lawal has not made any such appointment, and Bashir Hadejia has not been appointed to any position in the present government.”
The purported appointment letter addressed to Bashir Hadejia from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government and dated October 27, 2023, reads, “I am pleased to inform you that excellency the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has approved your appointment as Technical Adviser, Mining (Office of the Executive Governor), Government House.
“Your appointment based on recognition of your experience competence and dedication to duty. The appointment takes effect from 27th October, 2023.
“With this development, therefore, you will enjoy salary in accordance with terms and conditions of service guiding your appointment.
“While anticipating that you will justify the confidence reposed in you, I wish you Allah’s guidance in the conduct of your assignment.”
The letter was signed by Mal Abuabkar M. Nakwada, Secretary to the State Government.
However, the government has described the letter as fake and the “handiwork of mischief makers” whose aim is to “mislead the public and smear the good image of Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration.”
The government urged the public and media to “disregard this forged document which clearly fell short of the established standards of the official correspondences from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government in terms of the quality of the contents, arrangement, and seal.”
