Freed Zamfara cleric recounts ordeal in Saudi prison

The family of Islamic cleric Alaramma Hafeez Ibrahim, who was detained by the Saudi Authorities for more than three years on allegations of drug peddling, has expressed happiness over his release earlier this week. The Gusau-based Qur’anic memorizer spent two years in Saudi prison. He was discharged and acquitted by two Saudi courts. Jubilation as […]

The family of Islamic cleric Alaramma Hafeez Ibrahim, who was detained by the Saudi Authorities for more than three years on allegations of drug peddling, has expressed happiness over his release earlier this week.

The Gusau-based Qur’anic memorizer spent two years in Saudi prison. He was discharged and acquitted by two Saudi courts.

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The father of seven has finally re-united with his family, after more than three years he left home for a lesser hajj.

He spent about a year 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 for him by Saudi authorities in the holy city of Mecca, according to his brother Malam Usama Kuraye.

“Early this year, I went for a lesser hajj in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and I met Alaramma in Mecca.

He was hale and hearty despite the tribulation.

We had an extensive and fruitful discussion.

He thanked every one at home for their fervent prayers,” he said.

 

My innocence has spoken for me

“I’m extremely happy to set free after spending years in detention.

“Even when I was discharged and acquitted, I was afraid that Saudi Arabian authorities will come after me again.

“The reason why I was afraid was because I saw what had happened to some one; he was discharged but later rearrested and sent back to prison.

“I thank everyone for their prayers and efforts, especially Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle and the Federal Government for their unrelenting effort in securing my release.

“Staying in Saudi prison is not entirely without advantage for me.

“I was able to learn a lot of things including memorizing several scholarly books,” Hafeez Ibrahim explained.

 

How I was framed up, arrested

Hafeez Ibrahim Ibrahim told Daily Trust on Sunday that he was arrested by Saudi security officials for a crime he did not commit.

“I arrived Saudi Arabia for a lesser hajj via Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.

“After we landed in Jeddah, we took buses to Medina.

“I went to the mosque and performed Zuhur and Asr prayers and then came back to my accommodation.

“I was preparing to go to bed when I heard someone knock at the door. We were three in the room.

“I was together with one Khalid from Zawiyya in Gusau, Zamfara State.

“We didn’t lock the door so I asked the person at the door to come in.

“Suddenly, three hefty men in mufti, believed to be Saudi security officials, pounced on us.

“They held the two of us down.

“One of them pressed me hard on the bed and firmly grabbed my hands.

“They ransacked the room and didn’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 after spending two days there, they said my case would be treated in Jeddah,” he said.

Hafeez Ibrahim said no one told him the offence he had committed to warrant the arrest.

“From Medina police station we proceeded to Jeddah where I spent about one week at the police station in Jeddah.

“They took me to the prosecutor for interrogation.

“It was during the interrogation that I learnt about what they were suspecting me of.

“They brought an interpreter and he told me in Hausa that the authorities are suspecting me of importing illicit drugs into the country.

“I swore by Almighty Allah that I knew nothing about the said drugs.

“I told them that my bags were searched and nothing incriminating was found in them.

“They confirmed that nothing was found on me, but noted that a bag tagged in my name showed that I brought the drugs.

“I told them again I knew nothing about the said bag.

“Later, they threw me into prison.

“After I spent about two months in prison, they brought me out for interrogation again.

“They asked me ‘don’t you have 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 and it was also containing some information about me at Jeddah airport.

“They said since I denied knowing about the bag, they would take it for forensic analysis and if they detect my finger prints on the bag, they would take action against me.

“I said they should go ahead with the forensic analysis.

“I even said they should search their CCTV footage to see if they can find me near the bag.

“They took me back to prison and said they would take me to court later.

“I spent about 14 months in prison before the trial started,” he added.

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 took me back to prison again.

“They later notified the Nigerian Embassy that I would be handed over to them but that the case was not yet over.

“So, they handed me over to Nigerian Embassy on bail until now that I’m finally a free man,” Hafeez Ibrahim explained.