Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A Federal High Court sitting in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, has ordered the remand of a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dadda’u Mamuda, in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service over allegations that he threatened to kill police officers who attempted to arrest his political supporters. The remand order was issued on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, following the suspect’s arraignment on a two-count charge related to the alleged death threats. Justice M.O. Olajuwon, who presided over the case, adjourned the matter to Thursday, June 10, 2026, for the hearing of Mamuda’s formal bail application. The APC chieftain will remain in the Lafia custodial centre until then.
The police prosecution argued that the threats posed a significant risk to public safety and the morale of officers performing their duties during a sensitive political period. The case has drawn significant attention in Nasarawa State as it highlights the increasing friction between local political heavyweights and security agencies as the state prepares for upcoming electoral contests. According to formal reports from the state command, Mamuda was apprehended after intelligence surfaced regarding a viral address he delivered to a gathering of political supporters. In the heat of a leadership tussle within the ruling party, the chieftain was accused of threatening to kill any police officer who attempted to arrest or detain political activists and supporters associated with his specific faction.
Mamuda is widely recognized in the state as a staunch political associate of Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, the former Inspector‑General of Police (IGP) and a heavyweight governorship aspirant in Nasarawa State. The connection to a former head of the national police force has added a layer of irony and significant public interest to the case, given that the suspect is accused of inciting violence against the very institution his principal once led. Police sources familiar with the investigation revealed that the incident occurred during a strategic meeting where Mamuda was addressing a crowd of supporters loyal to the former IGP. Witnesses claimed that Mamuda’s rhetoric turned aggressive when discussing the role of law enforcement in political disagreements, and he allegedly vowed that any officer involved in the harassment or arrest of their foot soldiers would face lethal consequences.
Beyond the threats against the police, Mamuda’s address also delved into the contentious issue of the 2027 governorship succession in Nasarawa State. The suspect reportedly used the platform to launch a scathing verbal attack on Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, the lawmaker representing the Nasarawa West Senatorial District. Mamuda allegedly told the gathered crowd that no person “with integrity” would support Senator Wadada’s ambition to succeed the incumbent, Governor Abdullahi Sule, in the next general election. Senator Wadada is widely considered one of the leading contenders for the Government House in 2027, and Mamuda’s comments reflect the deep‑seated animosity and factionalisation currently plaguing the APC in Nasarawa as different power blocs jostle for position ahead of the party’s future primaries.
The Nasarawa State Police Command has maintained a firm stance on the matter, emphasizing that no individual, regardless of their political standing or affiliations, is above the law. A senior police officer confirmed on the weekend of the arrest that Mamuda was in custody and undergoing interrogation. “The Command will not tolerate any form of incitement against our officers. Threatening the life of a policeman for performing his constitutional duties is a capital offence against the state. We are committed to maintaining neutrality in political matters, but we will not be intimidated or blackmailed into inaction,” the officer was quoted as saying.
The APC stakeholder was said to have issued the threat during a political gathering in Lafia, an action that later led to his arrest and prosecution. The police said the suspect would be arraigned in court on Monday, May 11, but the hearing was deferred, leading to the eventual remand on Tuesday. According to the charge, Mamuda allegedly made threatening statements in which he vowed to kill any police officer involved in the arrest of supporters of his preferred governorship aspirant, former IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, during any political dispute. The alleged statement was reportedly made during a political meeting held recently in Lafia.
The judge’s decision to remand Mamuda without the option of bail pending the formal hearing on June 10 underscores the seriousness with which the court views the alleged offences. The prosecution had argued that the threats posed a clear and present danger to law enforcement personnel and could undermine public confidence in the impartiality of the police during an already tense election season. The defence has not yet presented its full arguments, which will be considered during the bail application hearing next month.
This case has inevitably raised questions about the political climate in Nasarawa State. The APC, which controls the state government, has been riven by internal conflicts as various factions position themselves for the 2027 gubernatorial election. Governor Abdullahi Sule is completing his second term and is constitutionally barred from seeking re‑election, leaving a wide‑open race that has intensified factional struggles. The emergence of former IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu as a prominent aspirant has only deepened the divisions, with his camp and that of Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada engaging in increasingly bitter exchanges. Mamuda’s alleged threats constitute the most serious escalation yet, and his remand will likely exacerbate tensions within the party.
The case has also raised questions about the culture of impunity that has long characterised Nigerian politics, where political thugs and their patrons have often operated without fear of consequences. This prosecution, if successful, could send a strong signal that the state is serious about holding political actors accountable for inciting violence. However, sceptics note that high‑profile political cases in Nigeria have often been delayed, abandoned, or resulted in acquittals, and that the true test will be whether Mamuda is eventually convicted and sentenced.
As Mamuda awaits his bail hearing, the Lafia custodial centre has become an unlikely political observation post. The man who once spoke loudly of killing police officers now spends his days behind bars, his future dependent on the legal process he once seemed to scorn. The case continues.
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