Group demands release of Mahdi Shehu

The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria has demanded the release of a Kaduna-based business mogul and Chairman, Dialogue group of companies, Alhaji Mahdi Shehu.

The business man was arrested after he had blown the whistle on the Katsina State government alleging financial misappropriations of security funds.

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Addressing a press conference in Kaduna, the national president of the group, Isah Abubakar, urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to commence investigations into alleged diversion of N52 billion security votes by the Masari-led government.

He said the unlawful detention of Shehu by the Nigerian Police, allegedly acting on the orders of the Katsina State government, despite a court order to that effect, is an abuse of human rights.

“It is inappropriate to hunt down a man who raised his voice for the benefit of the voiceless majority of Northern Nigeria and Katsina State in particular. We expect his allegation to be challenged by facts and figures, not intimidation by the Katsina State government. Governor Masari who has been a victim of injustice in the past shouldn’t have been the one carrying out this unlawful assignment on his brother.  The alleged diversion of N52 billion Naira of Katsina State security vote should be the issue of contention. The least we expect is to set up a panel of enquiry to ascertain the case objectively.”