The management of TheNEWS and PM NEWS, has described statements credited to self-acclaimed security expert, Alhaji Shehu Mahdi, on the cause of death of its former staff, Bagauda Khalto, as not only “a blatant lie”, but “fabrications made from the pit of hell”.
The management of TheNEWS and PM NEWS, in a statement by the Executive Editor, Kunle Ajibade, rubbished Shehu’s interview on Arise TV, saying a fact check revealed that Durbar Hotel was bombed on 18 January 1996 and not 21 December 1995 as Mahdi claimed in his interview.
The statement said Colonel Jafaru Isa had denied that Shehu was in his office to report the incident, asking: “if indeed General Sani Abacha had known of this story, would he not have asked the likes of Chief Tom Ikimi to weaponize it in their campaigns against America and the pro-democracy activists?”
They added: “Remember that was not long after Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Ogoni activists were hanged leading to condemnation all over the world. Who were some of the security officers who told him not to talk about the incident? Could Hanks as a secret service agent had worked in a lousy manner the way this fellow has described his interaction with him?
“The truth is that this man is a liar. A shameless liar. Last year, Mahdi Shehu was arraigned in court in Katsina over corruption allegations that he sensationally levelled against Governor Aminu Masari’s government. The video of the allegations is still being shared on social media.
“Many people believed his story until a judge in Katsina asked him to appear in court. Mahdi Shehu suddenly developed cold feet, pleading ill-health.
“When the court insisted, he was brought to the court on a stretcher. Walking with the aid of crutches, it took him close to thirty minutes to get inside the court.
“He pretended that he was dying, that his pain was excruciating, that his political enemies were bent on killing him.
“Unknown to him, while he was in court, secret camera had been installed in his cell in Katsina Prison. As soon he returned to the cell the pretense was gone.
“The video showed that the man was hale and hearty after all. In fact, he led a muslim congregation in prayer that same day. The video subsequently went viral.
“Mahdi has been making frantic efforts since then to clean up his dented image.
“It is sad that our government has failed woefully to investigate the gruesome murders of Bagauda Kaltho, Dele Giwa, Chief Alfred Rewane, Chief Bola Ige, M.K.O.Abiola, Barnabas and Abigail Igwe, Dr Harry Marshall, Victor Nwankwo, Chief A. K. Dikibo, etc.,etc.
“It is sad indeed that reprobates like Mahdi Shehu are now encouraged to play game with the treasured memories of these victims,” they stated.
