A staff member of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mairiga Hassan Shahru, has reportedly been queried, arrested, and detained for allegedly leaking classified documents related to land allocations in the FCT.

According to the FCT Police Commissioner, Adewale Ajao, Shahru’s arrest has been confirmed and he is expected to be charged to court.

However, he has since been released on bail.

While Daily Trust could not independently confirm the specific document that led to the query, insider sources claim Shahru allegedly leaked a certificate of occupancy indicating land allocations to two sons of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

The minister, during a live media chat on Thursday, denied the allegations.

He said the claims stemmed from mischief allegedly orchestrated by someone from Adamawa State, whom he declined to name.

Lere Olayinka, Mr. Wike’s Special Assistant on Public Communications, had also earlier denied that such allocations were made.

A letter of query currently circulating online, addressed to Hassan Mairiga Shahru (Land Resource Officer I), accuses him of misconduct under the Public Service Rules (PSR).

The letter cites several infractions:

“Unauthorised disclosure of official information to unauthorised persons, which constitutes a clear violation of PSR 100401 and 100402(j).”

“Breach of oath of secrecy which you swore to uphold upon assumption of duty under the PSR 100402(o).”

“Conduct unbecoming of a public officer as defined under PSR 100402(aa), thereby undermining the integrity and confidentiality required of your office.”

Signed by the Acting Director of Land Administration, Uzo Udegbunam J., and dated 4th July 2025, the query (Ref No. FCT/DLA/189) demands Shahru provide a written explanation within 24 hours on why disciplinary action should not be taken.

Colleagues at the Land Department confirmed Shahru’s arrest last Friday, saying the atmosphere in the office has become “tense” due to increased surveillance by top management.

A female staff member, speaking anonymously, expressed disbelief: “Shahru works in the department that handles new land applications and wouldn’t typically have access to approval or allocation documents.”

Another colleague remarked, “To be frank with you, a lot of things are going on; we have never seen some of these things before in this department, but everything in life is about time. This time will still pass.”

On his part, a human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, described how he and other legal advocates tracked Shahru following his arrest.

In a report titled “Tracking down FCDA worker detained by FCT Minister Wike over land allocation scandal involving his children,” Sowore claimed that Shahru had been “unlawfully detained at the FCDA Police Post.”

He recounted visiting the station on Friday night with lawyers Rosemary Hamza, A.K. Musa, and another unnamed lawyer who had tried earlier to secure the civil servant’s release.

Another human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, strongly criticized the arrest and subsequent detention of Shahru.

He told newsmen “There was no evidence that Shahru was behind the leaked documents that implicated Wike’s children.”

He described the action as “outright witch-hunt,” adding:
“After they arrested him (Shahru), they ransacked his phone and there was no evidence linking him with the leaked document. And beyond that, we must ask what is really classified about information on AGIS. It is a public establishment and Nigerians have the right to know what is happening there.”

“Land allocation must be transparent and whistleblowers must expose infractions. Minister Wike should have come out and clear his name on the allegations instead of beating around the bush that his children are also Nigerians. The arrest of Shahru is illegal, we need more whistleblowers to sanitise the system.”

On Shahru’s current status, Adeyanju confirmed his release:
“He has been released after intense pressure. He is no longer in custody even though he has been issued a baseless query. Sowore was in the forefront of the struggle for the release of the innocent civil servant. We are all part of it. We would not abandon Shahru, we would stand for him and ensure that he is not victimised.”

Minister Nyesom Wike denied claims that he awarded land allocations to his children through JOAQ Farms and Estates Limited and Jordan, totaling 3,822 hectares allegedly worth $6.45 billion.

At the media parley, Wike responded: “Assuming, though not conceding, my children applied for land. Are they not citizens? Are they Ghanaians? Even if they applied, are they not entitled because I’m a minister?”

“First, calculate land in Maitama and Asokoro and tell me where you’d get 2000 hectares of land. And I know where it is coming from. It is from Adamawa State. I am aware,” he added.

He also challenged the evidence being circulated:
“The whole thing is rubbish. Where in Maitama and Asokoro can you find 2,000 hectares? Bring the documents, bring empirical evidence.”

Commissioner Ajao confirmed Shahru’s arrest and noted that the case is under investigation:
“The suspect would be charged to court.”

When contacted regarding the disciplinary query, Wike’s media aide, Mr. Olayinka, explained:
“Issuing query to civil servants for allegedly flouting the service rules is a normal procedure. He isn’t the first to be queried and he won’t be that last.”

Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese and founder of the Kukah Centre, has stated that Nigeria’s fight against insecurity will continue to be ineffective unless the country recommits to justice and the rule of law.

Speaking on Saturday in Jos, Plateau State, during the commissioning of the House of Justice office, Bishop Kukah emphasized the critical role justice plays in national security.

“It is essential for a country like ours to respect the rule of law. Failure to address injustice only leads to greater insecurity.”

“When mass atrocities occur, no one considers the long-lasting impacts on the victims and communities; our focus is often on the perpetrators. The rule of law must be upheld,” he said.

Kukah lamented the neglect of victims in areas like Benue, Plateau, and other states plagued by violence, arguing that institutional failure to ensure justice only worsens national insecurity.

He warned that merely having laws in place is not enough if they are not meaningfully enforced.

“Justice is not something that will be handed to you as a gift. Courts alone cannot deliver justice unless someone approaches them,” Kukah noted.

Encouraging citizens not to withdraw in frustration, he urged Nigerians to actively seek justice, even in the face of perceived systemic corruption.

The CEO of House of Justice, Gloria Mabeiam Esq., also spoke at the event, stressing that Nigeria is burdened by a mounting backlog of unaddressed grievances.

She described it as a significant “justice debt”, saying the country must confront these lingering issues if it is to move forward with fairness and accountability.

A tragic domestic incident has rocked the Idanre area of Ondo State, where a 22-year-old man, Gabriel Pius, has been taken into police custody for allegedly killing his elder brother, Abu Simon, during a heated disagreement.

The State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, confirmed the incident, stating that it was reported by a family acquaintance and quickly responded to by officers from the Idanre Division. The suspect was promptly arrested.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of life resulting from this domestic altercation. Our detectives have moved swiftly to ensure justice will be served,” Lawal said.

According to him, “On 27th June 2025, at about 2000hrs, one Gabriel Michael reported the fatal stabbing of Abu Simon by his younger brother, Gabriel Pius, following a domestic disagreement.”

Following his arrest, Pius was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for a more detailed investigation. Police authorities have confirmed that he will face prosecution once inquiries are complete.

In a related update, the Ondo State Police Command revealed multiple security successes achieved over the last two weeks, including the arrest of a notorious four-man armed robbery gang, along with several suspected cultists and fraudsters.

The commissioner said the robbery suspects had been terrorising residents of Akure, Owo, Ondo, and neighboring communities, engaging in violent crimes and vehicle theft.

They were tracked down and apprehended by the Command’s Tactical Intelligence and Response Squad (TIRS) following a recent robbery incident in Akure on June 27.

Two members of the gang were initially caught outside the state, and their arrest led to the capture of two more suspects, including a well-known dealer of stolen goods.

“Preliminary investigations reveal that the syndicate is involved in a wider car-snatching and trafficking network,” Lawal disclosed.

Items recovered from the suspects included a stolen vehicle and multiple mobile phones.

The police say they are intensifying efforts to retrieve more stolen property and are in pursuit of other accomplices, including a suspected arms supplier who is currently on the run.

A fatal crash claimed 21 lives on Sunday morning along the Kano–Zaria highway in what has been described as one of the deadliest accidents in recent times.

The collision involved a Toyota Hummer Bus and a DAF trailer at Kasuwar Dogo, Dakatsalle, around 8:23 a.m.

Mohammed Bature, the Kano Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), confirmed the incident and expressed grief over the tragic loss of life.

The accident involved 24 individuals, out of whom 21 perished, while three sustained injuries.

According to a statement from FRSC spokesperson Abdullahi Labaran, initial findings point to a violation of traffic regulations by the driver of the Toyota Hummer Bus, which caused a head-on collision with the trailer. The impact triggered a devastating fire.

“The crash was caused by route violation by the driver of the Toyota Hummer Bus, which led to a head-on collision with the trailer. The impact resulted in a fire outbreak,” the statement noted.

The Hummer Bus, bearing registration number KMC 171 YM, collided with the DAF trailer (GWL 422 ZE), resulting in both vehicles being engulfed in flames.

Rescue teams recovered the charred remains of 21 passengers, which have been deposited at the Nassarawa Hospital Mortuary.

The injured victims are currently receiving care at Garun Malam General Hospital.

FRSC personnel, in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force and fire services, promptly responded to the emergency.

The crash site has been cleared, and traffic flow has resumed.

Sector Commander Bature conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.

He emphasized the importance of obeying traffic regulations.

“The Corps remains committed to ensuring the safety of all road users and urges the public to remain vigilant and law-abiding on the highways,” the statement concluded.

He further cautioned motorists against reckless behaviors such as route violations, dangerous overtaking, and travelling at night—actions that frequently lead to catastrophic consequences.