THE Coalition for Whistleblower Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to urgently intervene and protect Mubarak Bello, a whistleblower being persecuted by the Katsina State Police Command.
In a letter dated October 24, 2025, and addressed to the ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, a senior advocate, the coalition urged the commission to immediately offer full protection to Bello, whom it described as being in “immediate danger” following his arrest and detention by the Katsina State Police Command.
Bello, an entrepreneur who operated a business centre within the Katsina Police headquarters, had for years exposed an alleged ghost-worker payroll fraud involving officers in the command. His disclosures, backed by petitions to anti-graft agencies including the ICPC, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Attorney General of the Federation, prompted an initial investigation by the ICPC.
Earlier in September, The ICIR reported that the coalition petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, demanding Bello’s release and protection.
The ICIR reported that Bello was arrested over accusations of unlawful possession of firearms, impersonation, and use of a fake police ID card. However, investigations by The ICIR revealed that Bello’s police identity card had been issued as part of a fraudulent recruitment process he later exposed.
The ICPC had also confirmed...
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