FG’s moves on Ibrahim Ibrahim excites family

The family of the Islamic cleric, Alaramma Ibrahim Ibrahim Ibrahim, who was detained by Saudi Authorities about three years ago on allegations of drugs peddling, has expressed happiness over the move by the Federal Government to intervene in the case. The Zamfara born Qur’anic memorizer was arrested in Saudi Arabia about three years ago. He […]

The family of the Islamic cleric, Alaramma Ibrahim Ibrahim Ibrahim, who was detained by Saudi Authorities about three years ago on allegations of drugs peddling, has expressed happiness over the move by the Federal Government to intervene in the case.

The Zamfara born Qur’anic memorizer was arrested in Saudi Arabia about three years ago. He spent two years in Saudi prison and was discharged and acquitted by two Saudi courts. The father of seven is yet to reunite with his family more than three years after he left them for lesser hajj.

He spent months at the Nigerian Embassy in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia waiting for when the Saudi authorities would finally set him free. He was later moved to an apartment provided by Saudi authorities in the holy city of Mecca, according to his brother Mallam Usama Gusau

“I came back from lesser hajj last Sunday. I met Alaramma in Mecca; he was hale and hearty despite the tribulation. We had an extensive and fruitful discussion. He thanked everyone at home for their fervent prayers. In fact, he wasn’t aware of the Federal Government’s move to intervene until I came back from the lesser hajj,” Alaramma’s younger brother, Mallam Usama, told Daily Trust.

“His family is being adequately taken care of here at home. Their only concern is his physical absence. But I can tell you that their basic needs are being provided by brothers, sisters and other well meaning individuals. Alaramma believes his ordeal is a trial from Almighty Allah. We are very grateful to all and sundry.

“When we learnt that Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle in his magnanimity spoke with President Muhammadu Buhari on the matter and the Federal Government has promised to wade into the case, we were very happy and grateful,” he said.

“We believe he was framed up.   Alaramma Ibrahim has participated in different national and international Qur’anic recitation competitions, his innocence will surely speak for him as you can see by his discharge and acquittal by two Saudi courts,” he added.

Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle said he had met with President Muhammadu Buhari on the matter as the judgment was scheduled for next week. He said the defendant was earlier cleared by two lower courts in Jedda for lack of evidence on the part of the prosecution. However, the prosecution appealed against him in Mecca where he was expected to have a lawyer or risk execution of judgment. He said President Buhari had already directed the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to handle the matter appropriately in order to save the innocent life of Ibrahim Ibrahim.

How I was framed up, arrested

Alaramma Ibrahim Ibrahim who spoke with our correspondent from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia said he was arrested by Saudi security officials about three years ago.

“What happened was that I arrived this country for a lesser hajj via Aminu Kano international airport. I hail from Gusau in Zamfara State, and I was among the people sponsored by the state government for the lesser hajj.

“This is my fourth time of coming to this country for lesser hajj. At that time, our plane touched down at the Jeddah airport in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia at 12 noon local time. After we landed, we then took buses to Medina. At Medina, I went to the mosque and performed Zuhur and Asr salats and then came back to my accommodation.

“I was preparing to go to bed when suddenly I heard someone knock on the door. We were three in the room, and the door was not locked. I then asked whoever was at the door to come in. Suddenly, three hefty men in mufti believed to be Saudi security officials pounced on us.

“They quickly held the two of us. They also held me. One of them pressed me hard on the bed and firmly grabbed my hands. They ransacked the room and couldn’t find anything incriminating. They brought me downstairs in handcuffs and chains and bundled me into a waiting vehicle.

“They took me to Medina police station and I spent about two days there. After spending two days at the police station, they said my case would be treated in Jeddah,” he said.

However, Ibrahim said no one had told him the offence he committed to warrant the arrest as he kept asking himself what he did to warrant a crack down like that.

“From the Medina police station, we proceeded to Jeddah and I spent about one week at the police station in Jeddah. They took me to the prosecutor for further interrogation. It was during interrogation that I learnt about what they were suspecting me of. They brought an interpreter and he told me in Hausa that the authorities were suspecting me of importing illicit drugs into the country. I swore by Almighty Allah that I knew nothing about the said drugs. I even reminded them that they searched my bag and found nothing incriminating. Then, what is my business with illicit drugs? I told them I had nothing to do with drugs.

“They confirmed that nothing was found on me, but they said that a bag tagged in my name showed that I brought the drugs. I told them again I knew nothing about it.

“Later, they threw me into prison. After I spent about two months in prison, they brought me out of the prison for another round of interrogations. They asked me “don’t you have a bag with so so colour and consignment? I told them I knew nothing about the bag they were talking about. They said they found the bag tagged in my name at Jeddah airport and it also contained some information about me.

“They said since I denied knowing anything about the bag, they would do a forensic analysis, and if they should detect my finger prints on the bag, they should take whatever action they like against me. I agreed.  I even said they should review their CCTV footage to see if they can find me anywhere near the bag in question.

“They took me back to prison and said they would take me to court later. I spent about 14 months in prison again before the trial started. When I was taken to court, I told them that I memorized the holy Qur’an apart from being a teacher. I partook in several Quranic recitation competitions both at national and international levels, as such I will never take part in drug peddling.”

He said after about two months, the court in Jeddah discharged and acquitted him. The court said they found nothing incriminating against him from all the evidences tendered.

“After the court discharged me, against our expectation that I would be set free, they drove me back to prison. They said there would be an appeal in another court in the holy city of Mecca. Again, I was discharged and acquitted. After the court discharged me for the second time, they still took me back to prison. They later notified the Nigerian Embassy that I would be handed over to them but they said the case is not yet over, they rather handed me over to Nigerian Embassy on bail,” Alaramma Ibrahim further explained.

However, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) did not respond to inquiries on the action taken over the detention of Islamic cleric, Ibrahim Ibrahim in Saudi Arabia.

President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the AGF to intervene in the appeal by Ibrahim over his conviction on drug-related offences. After some phone calls and text messages, the media aide to the minister, Dr Umar Gwandu, said he does not have the answer yet.

Ibrahim was accused by Saudi authorities of trafficking of 1,497 red capsules carrying an (R) sign suspected to be Tramadol through Ethiopian Air Flight 402.

The Saudi authorities in Jeddah then had charged Ibrahim for drug trafficking, an offence punishable by death.

“The forensic test number 1703203, which was carried out on the reddish substance ascertained that there are six units tagged on one side each with the (R) sign while the other side had 225 written on it, and that they were the contraband tramadol capsules under the grade (H) of attached list of locally controlled drugs as spelt out in the Anti-drug and Narcotics Law,” the charge sheet reads in part.