Despite the call by the by the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, for the release of his close security aides including her Aide De Camp (ADC), the security aides are still in detention.
Against convention, they have neither been released nor replaced, leaving her without her own security details.
The First Lady, in demanding the release of her security aides, stated: “You don’t play with the protection of the First Family.”
Aisha Buhari made the demand for the release of her aides in Police custody following the trouble that ensued between her and President’s influential Personal Assistant and favourite nephew, Sabiu “Tunde” Yusuf.
The trouble started on Thursday night when the First Lady’s Aide-de-camp, Usman Shugaba, attempted to force Sabiu into self -isolation over Coronavirus (COVID-19) fears.
However, Sabiu, who reportedly returned from Lagos that night, insisted that he will not leave his residence at the precincts of the Presidential Villa despite the intervention of Aisha Buhari and her children.
It was later reported that the incident led to shooting in the Presidential Villa and Sabiu, the powerful aide, secured the arrest of Aisha Buhari’s aides who attacked him.
However, a family member on Sunday said that as of 4 pm on Saturday, the aides were still in Police custody.
He said, ‘’Tunde met the NNPC GMD, Maikanti Baru, who recently died of COVID-19. He also visited several other places. Instead of going on self-isolation, he decided to return to the Villa and he is one of the few aides that has direct access to the President.
“The President is almost 80 and he is very vulnerable given his medical history. We advised Tunde not to see the President but he refused and forced his way into the Villa. He was able to get the First Lady’s aides arrested because of the influence he wields.
“We have a rule in the Villa that those who have direct access to the President should reduce their engagement with people. Even the new Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, has been adhering to the rule but Tunde seems to be a law unto himself.”
When asked whether the First Lady’s aides had been released, the President’s relative said, “As I speak to you, they have remained in custody, exposing them to possible infection of COVID-19.”
Meanwhile, it was learned that a battle line has been drawn as the President’s wife and children declared war on Sabiu, who some claimed was beginning to wield as much influence as the President’s late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari.
Sabiu, who was nicknamed ‘Tunde’ after Buhari’s late ally, Gen. Tunde Idiagbon, is the son of Mamman Daura’s sister.
Aisha had, on Friday, called on the IG to immediately release her aides.
She said: “Finally, I call on the IGP to release my assigned Staff who are still in the custody of the police in order to avoid putting their lives in danger or exposure to COVID-19 while in their custody.”
However, indications are that their release is not imminent, based on the statement released by Presidential Spokesperson, Malam Garba Shehu who said that President Muhammadu Buhari has opted that the law take its full course on the case.
According to Shehu, “armed guards and other security personnel assigned to the State House receive the necessary training of especially weapons handling and where they come short, their relevant agencies have their rules and regulations to immediately address them.
“Having authorized the proper investigation to be carried out into this unfortunate incident by the Police, the President has acted in compliance with the rule of law…In this particular instance, the President says the law should be allowed to take its course.”