By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Popular Kaduna-based human rights activist, Comrade Daniel Ejembi, was today arrested by operatives of the State Command of Nigeria Police Force (NPF) allegedly for whistle-blowing.
Comrade Ejembi, the Chief Executive Officer, Eagle’s Brain Human Rights Organization (HRO), informed People&Politics of his arrest, in a Short Message Service (SMS) he personally sent to our correspondent.
The message read: “I have just been picked by the police now.”
The said land is valued at several billions of Naira even as the purported acquisition and development has raised eyebrows in the State capital.
The activist had earlier on Tuesday, September 30,2025, disclosed that he had received a court summon over his role in blowing the lid off an alleged land racketeering on plots belonging to the prestigious Kaduna Polytechnic (KadPoly),a Federal Government (FG)-owned institution.
Though the police have not disclosed why the whistleblower was being held, however it was gathered that Comrade Ejembi’s matter may not be totally unconnected with a letter he wrote to a top official of the State property development firm, copied several ranking state and FG officials, over alleged illegal relocation of the Polytechnic’s land located at Television Bypass area of Kaduna city.
On Tuesday evening, he had reportedly informed some close allies that he has been dragged to Daura Magistrate Court in Kaduna over his letter to the Managing Director (MD), Kaduna State Development and Property Company (KDSDPC) Ltd on the KadPoly alleged land racketeering.
The letter by Comrade Ejembi, a copy of which was obtained by People&Politics, with reference number EBHRO/KDS/2025/004, and dated September 9, 2025, sought a formal inquiry into the alleged involvement of the property firm in the acquisition and development of the polytechnic campus land.
The letter was addressed to: “Sir, Alh. Abubakar Rabiu, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Kaduna State Development and Property Company Ltd, 3rd Floor, Investment House, 21 Ali Akilu Road, Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria.”
It was titled ‘Formal inquiry into alleged involvement in the illegal acquisition and development of Kaduna Polytechnic Television Campus land’.
In it, Comrade Ejembi stated, inter alia,: “Sir, We write to you from the Eagle’s Brain Human Rights Organization with a profound sense of duty to uphold the principles of justice, transparency, and ethical property development in Kaduna State.
“It is with grave concern that we bring to your office serious allegations that have emerged regarding the planned relocation of the Kaduna Polytechnic Television Campus and the purported new construction on its land. These allegations directly implicate the role of your company in this matter.”
The letter added: “The specific allegations being circulated, which we feel compelled to bring to your direct attention, are two, including: Allegation of Illegal Acquisition and Allegation of Unlawful Development”.
Furthermore, he stated: “It is alleged that Kaduna State Development and Property Company Ltd is involved in the illegal acquisition or development of the parcel of land legally owned and occupied by the federal institution, Kaduna Polytechnic (Television Campus).
“It is further alleged that your company is either the developer directly undertaking construction or is facilitating such development on this federal land without due process and proper authorization from the Federal Government.”
Apparently dwelling on the purported illegality of the transaction, Ejembi, in a paragraph with a subtitle: ‘The Illegal Nature of the Alleged Action’, pointed out that “as the Chief Executive of a state-owned property development company, you are undoubtedly aware that the purported actions described in these allegations would constitute a serious violation of the law”, citing jurisdictional violation to try to justify his allegation.
The whistleblower deemed the alleged transaction a violation of land belonging to the Federal Government of Nigerian and its agencies, adding that the FG institutions that oversee and supervise the Polytechnic are exclusively under federal jurisdiction.
“Any attempt by a state entity to acquire, develop, or facilitate development on federal land without explicit federal consent is fundamentally illegal and constitutes a violation of constitutional provisions on land ownership,” he stressed.
Accusing the State property firm of ”a breach of corporate ethics and public trust”, the activist stressed that “as a state-owned company, KDSDPC Ltd is expected to operate with the highest ethical standards and in compliance with all laws”, pointing out that “involvement in the alleged illegal acquisition and development of federal land would represent a severe breach of corporate ethics and the public trust placed in your organization.”
Therefore, the HRO boss demanded that KDSPDC provides a formal and detailed response to the allegations at its earliest convenience.
It detailed specific areas of public interest in such response to include whether KDSPDC is involved, whether as developer, facilitator, or investor, in any project on the land at the Kaduna Polytechnic Television Campus.
Another area,the letter stated, was: “The legal basis upon which your company would undertake any development activity on federal land without the express consent of the Federal Government.”
“Your prompt response is crucial to guide our next steps and ensure we are accurately informed before pursuing all available legal and advocacy channels to address this potentially egregious misconduct. We await your prompt response”, the letter concluded.
It was copied relevant top government officials, Ministries, Agencies and parastatals including the Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice, Kaduna State; Commissioner of Lands & Survey, Kaduna State; Minister of Education in Abuja.
Others are Minister of Works & Housing, Abuja; Rector, Kaduna Polytechnic; Speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly; and Director-General, Kaduna State Geographic Information Service (KADGIS).
Spokesman of the State Police Command, Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Mansir Hassan, did not take his call or respond to text message which sought police angle to the arrest, of press time.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Comrade Ejembi.
