Suspected killer of Sheikh Jaafar arrested

[Muhsin]

Suspected killer of Sheikh Jaafar arrested
Written by Jaafar Jaafar, Kano and Misbahu Bashir, Abuja   


Late Sheikh Ja'afar
The police yesterday said they have arrested the Vice Chairman of Freedom Radio, Alhaji Ado Mohammed, in connection with the murder of the Kano-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Jaafar Mahmud Adam, a source at the force headquarters, told Weekly Trust.

By police’s revelations, reprieve has finally come to the Kano State Governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, who was accused of having a hand in the killing of the revered Islamic teacher.

It was gathered that the police led by the force’s image-maker Emmanuel Ojukwu, swooped on the Kano based private radio station and whisked away Alhaji Ado Mohammed to Abuja.

The source who craved anonymity, informed Weekly Trust that the cheque posted by an online medium, www.saharareporters.com, which was allegedly linked to Governor Shekarau, was later established by the police that it belongs to Alhaji Ado Mohammed’s BankPHB account.

The online medium earlier reported that a cheque of N100 million was given to a self-confessed killer, whose service Governor Shekarau allegedly employed in order to murder the cleric.

Although Alhaji Mohammed had told the police that he once lost his cheque book, the police source revealed that he did not swear to an affidavit. Though the police investigation further revealed that the format of the cheque does not conform to the format of the state government, it however established that the said bank account of Alhaji Mohammed was never credited with N100 million.

The Police Public Relations Officer Assistant Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Ojukwu said the killing of Ja’afar is being thoroughly investigated by the police and the culprits will be prosecuted. He said any body believed to be among the killers or have knowledge on their whereabouts will be investigated.

When asked whether or not the police have arrested suspects in connection to the killing, he said only one person was fingered and arrested on the matter so far.

“Yes one man was picked up today (Friday 26 June 2009) in respect of the case,” Ojukwu said.

The police spokesman however did not reveal the name of the suspect nor the role he played in the assassination. He did not also state if other suspects will be arrested later.

It was gathered that the police have gathered sufficient facts about the murder and determine to prosecute those behind it. 

Weekly Trust Newspaper (Today:27th June, 2009)

[HUSNAA]

Cant be the right man

[gogannaka]

Husnaa why do you say so?

[HUSNAA]

circumstantial evidence  GGNK. Read the posting. That evidence will never stand up in court. Why cant we have proper forensic investigations ne?

[HUSNAA]

Besides Sahara reporters are like the National Enquirer. Full of heresay, unsubstantiated claims and controvertible evidence. Not to be trusted.

[Muhsin]

I always have been wanting to say more on this very issue but I forgot.

Many, many things happened following this news of arresting Alhaji Ado Muhammad. One: the news firstly came out from Radio Kano and CTV Kano in the night of Friday--a day before Trust's publication. Sincerely speaking, any fair-minded person could detect that they aired the news with satisfaction and at the same time to mock the Freedom Radio. You know dama they are at logger head for long.

In reaction to that, the Freedon Radio director--Air Vice Marshal Mukhtari Muhammad, held a press conference and explained everything, pointing accusing finger at Kano State Gov't at the end as the orchestrators of the arrest--via SSG, who got access to Alhaji Ado's account, allegedly deposited the amount, and blah blah blah. He gave pressmen copies of Ado's account information, which is officially stamped by Bank PHB. Thats in summary.

The event coincided with Shekarau's three-monthly interview programme wit Radio Kano. There then he also categorically talked tall on the issue, saying he didn't know anything of all the happenings. In fact he's not even aware of the sore relationship between him and the radio (Freedom), for he had had a phone in programme there just recently, which they invited him voluntarily.

Below are some of these aftermath happenings.

[Muhsin]

Arrest of Freedom Radio vice chairman:KNSG clears air... Dalhatu reacts

The Director of Press and Public Relations to the Kano state governor, Malam Sule Yau Sule has cleared the air on the recent arrest of the executive vice chairman of Freedom Radio, Alhaji Ado Muhammad by the police.
“I am not here to join issues with anyone nor to respond to anybody’s claim but I am here to educate you and explain certain things for you to understand the reality of the facts on the ground”.

Addressing pressmen at the Government House on the issue, the director explained that the issue emanated from the purported report posted to Saharareporters website alleging the involvement of Kano state government on the killing of Sheikh Ja’afar Mahmoud Adam.

In the letter, according to him, there was an allegation that there was a letter written from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), instructing the state ministry of finance to release the sum of N100 million to someone who confessed the killing of the late scholar.

He explained that attached to that letter was a cheque of N100million which was signed by forging the signature of the permanent secretary, Research, Evaluation and Political Affairs (REPA) in the Cabinet Office, Malam Bello Shehu Usman.

The indicted permanent secretary, the director, added, while reading the letter, felt it was necessary to seek legal action, hence his resolve to write a letter of petition to the commissioner of police about the allegation.

Malam Sule also refuted that the state government which was the principal suspect as contained in the letter earlier posted on the website of having any account in the acclaimed Bank PHB as the state only has its account in Unity Bank.

Based on that letter of petition, he said, the police went to court and sought clearance before commencing its full investigation on the actual owner of the account which was subsequently traced to Alhaji Ado Muhammad of Freedom Radio as against the perception that it was the government that ordered for the arrest of the said personality.

The director explained that the issue of the arrest was purely a police matter as the issue is under police investigation, and therefore whoever wants more explanation should go to the police.

Meanwhile, the Board of Directors, management and staff of Films Laboratory and Production Services (FILAPS), and Freedom Radio, Kano, have described "the events of the past few days as deliberate propaganda and campaign of calumny being orchestrated against Freedom Radio and some members of its board of directors and management."

One of the directors of Freedom Radio, Alhaji Bashir Dalharu, Walin Dutse, made the assertion at a press conference at the radio's conference hall last Saturday in reaction to the arrest of the station's vice chairman, Alhaji Ado Muhammad by the police.

According to him, on Friday, June 26, 09 operatives of the Nigeria Police Force at 8:30 am went to the house of vice chairman of Freedom Radio, Alhaji Ado Muhammad to invite him to the Kano command headquarters where he was shown the petition letter in question written from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to the police.

He said in the letter, the SSG alleged that their letter headed paper was stolen and their signature forged to withdraw the sum of N100 million from the account of the Research and Evaluation Directorate of the state government which they claimed was allegedly traced to the account of FILAPS, the mother company of Freedom Radio in which Alhaji Ado Muhammad is vice chairman.

He therefore appealed to the people to remain calm, law abiding and continue to pray for the repose of the soul of late Sheikh Ja'afar Mahmoud Adam who was a close confidant of Alhaji Ado Muhammad.
He then used the opportunity to assure the station's teeming listeners that Freedom Radio will not relent in discharging its professional duties to the society despite all odds.

[Muhsin]

Shekarau insists no govt hands in killing Sheikh Ja'afar

GOVERNOR (Dr.) Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano state has dissociated himself and the state government from the allegation that they have hands in the arrest of the vice chairman, Board of Directors of Freedom Radio, Alhaji Ado Muhammad.

He said the arrest of the vice chairman by police authorities followed an investigation instituted over complaints by a senior government official whose signature was forged on a stolen SSG's letter-headed paper directing the state ministry for finance to release N100 million to alleged killers of Sheikh Ja'afar Mahmoud Adam.

The governor was speaking in a two-hour programme via Radio Kano, yesterday, revealing that the aggrieved officer was the one who wrote a petition to the police for necessary investigation over the damage done to his personality, which as a governor, "I can not stop him from seeking legal redress." He said such investigation was what led to the arrest of Alhaji Ado Muhammad, maintaining that there is no government hands on the issue.

"I swear to Almighty Allah I wasn't aware of all this and people should realize that everybody has the right to protect his integrity. For instance, when Freedom Radio was broadcasting the issue of fertilizer contract, my SSG and the Head of Service were indicted and they are now in the court to protect their personalities," the governor explained.

Governor Shekarau said if somebody is invited for investigation, he will remain innocent until proven guilty, praying to God to protect the detained if he has no hands in the allegation.
He recalled that in his last radio interview, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu had narrated how he was detained for some days by Nuhu Ribadu, former EFCC boss, but after the investigation he is now free to move to anywhere.

The governor used the avenue to explain to the people that if at all the state government has a control over the police, it should not have allowed the Hisbah officials to be detained for three months which resulted in court case before their final release.

Governor Shekarau then reputed the allegation that there was a misunderstanding between his government and Freedom Radio, recalling that not long ago he was at the station for a two-hour programme and is ever ready for another invitation anytime.

On the issue of linking the broadcast or publication of the arrest of the Freedom Radio's vice chairman to the government's owned media organizations, the governor said he has never in a day cautioned them to or not use any material, pointing out that the said publication was equally carried by other national dailies in addition to BBC.

He, however, prayed to Allah to, in His infinite mercy exonerate Alhaji Ado Muhammad from the case if he is not found guilty at the end of the investigation, and expose the killers of late Brother Ja'afar in the shortest time possible.

[Muhsin]

Conclusion:

Allah (S.W.T) knows whosoever murdered the Sheikh. He'll, insaAllah, upturn him/them. Even if that doesn't happen here on earth, there is hereafter. There he'll be uncovered and punished.

Matter of fact; I don't have an ounce of doubt but that man--Alhaji Ado Muhammad, can neither execute nor mastermind the elimination. If you think he could, then what do you think is his benefit? Wallahi nothing. Hence he's purely innocent.

Lastly, I feel utterly sad and distressed looking at how the blood of a man like Shiekh Ja'afar turned to something like politico-social weapon for attacking a rival party/body? This is absolutely and obnoxiously mind-boggling and disheartening. Why? Why? Why?  

May the Almighty Allah grant Sheikh Ja'afar's soul an eternal peace, amin. Yasa muma mu cika da imani, amin.

[gogannaka]

Wow!
The whole investigation is turning out to be a political brouhaha now.
What benefit would the Kano state Govt gain by killing Ja'afar?
What benefit would Ado Mohammed gain by killing Ja'afar.
But the dilemma is,why was Ado Mohammed's cheque used? And why was there a state govt's official signature.
Sannan kuma who provided the documents to saharareporters?

The police should broaden their investigation as all the evidences do not make sense.
If the govt wanted to plan such a thing i doubt if they will write a cheque of 100million just like that.It can easily be traced.
Also,has the money been withdrawn? If yes,then who withdrew it and where?

Abeg all this thing is like child play,saharareporters are the lead actors here.I'm sure they are catching fun.

[Dan-Borno]

abokina gogannaka, may be you only new politics in
books, in practice, its more than that, i am sure you have
seen the naked picture of a honourable devil member
taking oath, kuma hakkan musulmine - this is just the tip of the
iceberg, more thrilling stories will come out - just watch out
Eko Oni oooo kini banje

[Muhsin]

Assalamu alaikum,

AlhamduliLlah! The air was finally cleared yesterday. Alhaji Ado Muhammad was exonerated and announced innocent by the NPF. Not only him but the Kano state governor, Shekarau, and the emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, who were initially also accused as the orchestrators/master-minders of this unforgivable and never forgiving killing of the Sheikh Ja'afar, were also "washed". 

The NPF further promised to intensify their hunt of the actual orchestrators/master-minders as well as the executors of the murder. They, after that, called on the people of Kano State, particularly the followers of the late Sheikh Ja'afar to exercise more patience. And, by Allah's grace, their digging will reach water. So we tirelessly and humbly hope and pray.

May Allah guide us, amin.

[admin]

Members Please Please and Please be very careful as you discuss this topic!

The Saharareporters.com does not seem to be a very reliable journalistic news source, as they post stories without the real identity of the author(s).

Also as one looks for the person(s) behind the website on the site, this is all you can find;
Laura James
Telephone:    (661)263-6228
E-mail:    laura@saharareporters.com
Website:    www.conquestmedia.net


If the discussion continues along this line, We will have no choice but to remove all posting attributed to saharareporters.com from this forum!

[Muhsin]

If the discussion continues along this line, We will have no choice but to remove all posting attributed to saharareporters.com from this forum!

I am afraid but which line? Nobody seems, at least to my understanding, to believe the saharareporters' report. Is there?

Any way, thanks for the reminder.

[nasr19]

News update form http://www.news.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2158:sheik-jaafars-murder-shekarau-kano-emirate-freedom-radio-cleared&catid=46:lead-stories&Itemid=140 :


Sheik Ja’afar’s murder: Shekarau, Kano Emirate, Freedom Radio cleared
WRITTEN BY MISBAHU BASHIR      

Inspector General of Police

The police in Abuja yesterday said Governor Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano State, the Kano Emirate Council and the Freedom Radio Kano have no case to answer on the murder of a prominent Kano based Islamic cleric, Sheik Ja’afar Mahmud Adam two years a ago.
 Inspector General of Police Mike Okiro, represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of ‘D’ Department (Investigation) made the assertion at a press conference in Abuja. He said police investigation has revealed that Governor Shekarau, the Emirate Council and the Freedom Radio were not behind the killing of Sheik Ja’afar. “There is no iota of evidence of the involvement of Governor Ibrahim Shekarau and the Kano Emirate Council in the killing of Sheik Ja’afar Adam. Again, Freedom Radio is not in any way linked to the murder of the late Sheik as the police have no evidence in that direction,” the IGP said.

 He said the deceased was killed by four assailants while he was leading morning prayer at Dorayi Juma’at Mosque in Kano on April 13th 2007.

 He said police investigation has revealed that prior to the death of the Sheik; he had received series of death threats from different quarters both written and verbal, including the receipt of a shroud (burial cloth). He said the threats were extended to his followers too. He said the Sheik was also alleged to have been attacked in June 2006 while preaching at Indimi Mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State.

“On April 18, 2007 police officers were detailed to uncover the identity of the murderers who have obtained statement from eye witnesses. Other relevant evidences such as expended empty shells of ammunition and copies of letters of complaints and threats to the Sheik’s life were recovered. The investigators also visited Sharada Divisional Police Headquarters, attacked by some unidentified armed men who killed two policemen and made away with some fire arms and ammunition on April 11th, 2007,” he said.

He said the police have arrested seven people including a Nigerien based on information received during investigation as prime suspects in the murder case. He said police detectives visited relevant towns and places, including Dakin-Gari in Kebbi State, the Embassy of Niger Republic in Abuja, Maiduguri and the headquarters of the State Security Service (SSS), Kano to ascertain claims that some suspects in the SSS custody who were arrested over an incident in Panshekara Kano, by a joint police and military team have confessed to the killing of the Sheik.

“The following facts emerged after painstaking investigation. (1) That the Sheik was attacked and killed at about 5:30pm on April 13th 2007 by gunmen at Almuntada Jumuat Mosque, Dorayi Kano while leading Morning Prayer. (2) During the attack on the Sheik, one Jamilu was killed while Abdullahi Abubakar and Malam Hamisu Mansur sustained bulled wounds. (3) Evidence eventually linked the killing of the Sheik to serial killings committed in Kano between April 1 and 17 2007, by some fundamentalists. It is our strong belief that these fundamentalists were likely to be among the killers of the Sheik because some of the arms stolen from the police station attacked were recovered from their hide out in a shootout with the joint military/police team during which 24 of them died,” he said. He said the suspects arrested in 2007 were released on bail in view of the fact that there was no evidence to prosecute them. The IGP said some time this year, there were some stories on the internet by the Sahara Reporters and the Desert Herald accusing the Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, his Aide de Camp (ADC) and the Kano Emirate Council of involvement in the killing of the Sheik. He said the internet publication alleged that one Tijjani Garba received the sum of N50 million from Kano State Governor in conspiracy with the Kano Emirate to kill the Sheik. He said the publication further claimed that the students of late Sheik Ja’afar jointly signed a document demanding the investigation of the allegations on the internet.

“The police investigated the matter during which all the personalities mentioned in the publication made written statements to the police investigation team led by a senior officer. The investigation revealed the following facts. (1) The internet publication was authored by a faceless writer, as the Islamic body alleged to have originated it dissociated itself from it completely. (2) All the signatories to the document who claimed to be students and sympathizers of late Sheik Ja’afar do not exist as efforts made to contact them yielded no positive results while none of them is known to the Usman bn Affan Islamic Trust of the late Sheik. (3) The alleged confessional statement by the faceless Tijjani Garba is a false document, as it bore no address and was neither on a police statement form nor endorsed by any police officer,” he said.

He said the characters referred to as Alhaji Abba Gana and Malam Tijjani Garba cannot be traced, pointing to the fact that the interned publication was sponsored merely to create an atmosphere of tension and chaos in Kano. He said for the purpose of emphasis, the nexus between the magazine of the berretta pistol recovered at the scene were late Ja’afar was killed and the berretta pistol without magazine recovered from the enclave at Panshekara Kano where the rampaging suspected fundamentalists were overpowered by the joint military and police team, strongly supports the interference that Sheik Ja’afar killers were among those killed by the joint military/police team at the fundamentalist’s enclave. 

The IGP said the arrest of the Vice Chairman of Radio Freedom has nothing to do with the murder.