… Unlawful Detention of FCDA Staff Member
…Suspension of Wike Pending Outcome of Investigation
Over 23 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria have written a petition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, demanding an immediate investigation into the alleged abuse of office and corruption by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the unlawful detention of Mr. Mairiga Hassan Shaharu, a Federal Capital Development Administration (FCDA) staff member.
The petition, dated 4th of July, reads: “We, the undersigned civil society organizations, committed to the defense of democracy, human rights, accountability, and the rule of law in Nigeria, write to express grave concern over recent disturbing developments in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), involving the Minister of the FCT, Mr. Nyesom Wike.”
The group explained that on Friday, 28th of June, 2025, Mr. Mairiga Hassan Shaharu, a staff member of the Federal Capital Development Administration (FCDA), was arbitrarily arrested and unlawfully detained at the FCDA Police Post on the orders of Mr. Wike’s Chief Security Officer (CSO).
The reason for this unlawful action was the baseless allegation that Mr. Mairiga leaked internal documents, which exposed alleged illegal land allocations to Mr. Wike’s underage sons, as reported by the investigative media outlet Peoples Gazette.
The group further stated: “It is pertinent to note that Mr. Mairiga does not work in the department that processes land allocations and therefore has no access to such internal systems. His arrest was not only unlawful but also points to an orchestrated effort to intimidate civil servants and suppress whistleblowing.
“Worse still, credible human rights lawyers who intervened were informed by police officers that the detention was carried out using a forged court order, purportedly signed by a magistrate who no longer sits in that jurisdiction a criminal act in itself and a clear indicator of abuse of office, obstruction of justice, and fabrication of legal documents.
“When confronted, both the police at the FCDA post and senior officers admitted they were helpless because the detainee was considered “Wike’s personal detainee.” The CSO later suggested that the case had been transferred to the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Ajao, a known associate of other controversial detentions involving high-profile individuals.”
To further underscore the impunity, the CSO summoned one of the intervening citizens to appear before Minister Wike alongside the detained staff member — a brazen act of intimidation designed to shield the Minister from public scrutiny.
The CSOs therefore demand the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Mairiga Hassan Shaharu, a full-scale, independent investigation into the land allocation scandal and the reported use of forged court documents by the Minister’s security detail and the suspension of Minister Nyesom Wike from office pending the outcome of the investigation.
The group further demanded disciplinary and criminal proceedings against all officers of the Nigeria Police Force involved in the illegal detention and forgery, and Protection for whistleblowers and public servants who act in the public interest and expose wrongdoing.
The group maintained: “Your Excellency, this matter is a direct test of your government’s stated commitment to transparency, accountability, and justice. Silence or inaction in the face of this blatant abuse of power and suppression of due process would signal to Nigerians and the international community that corruption still enjoys protection under the current administration.
“We urge you to take swift, decisive action to reaffirm the public’s faith in your leadership and demonstrate that no one is above the law.”
#END
The undersigned are Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Centre for Liberty (CFL), Spaces for Change (S4C), Nigerian Human Rights Defenders Network (NHRDN), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN Foundation), Global Rights Nigeria, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), Amnesty International Nigeria, Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Partners West Africa – Nigeria, Connected Development (CODE), ActionAid Nigeria, Policy Alert, Centre for Social Justice, Media Rights Agenda, The Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED), PRADIN – Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative, HEDA Resource Centre, Organization for Community civic engagement (OCCEN), Mothers And Marginalised Advocacy Centre (MAMA Centre), BudgIT Nigeria Social Action and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
