The senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, on Friday recalled how former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Coomasie, ordered his arrest and signed his detention order in Kirikiri Prison, Lagos, in 1995.
However, he said they later became friends after his release from detention.
Mr. Sani, a pro-democracy activist before going into politics, said this in a tribute he wrote on his Facebook page in memory of Mr Coomassie who died on Thursday.
Mr Coomassie, who died after a protracted ailment, rose through the ranks to become the IGP in 1993 and retired from the service in 1999. He was buried on Friday.
“Dr Ibrahim Coomasie ordered for my arrest and signed my detention order in Kiri Kiri Prison, Lagos in 1995. When I was released from Prison, he reached out to me and we became ‘friends’ and I related with him as a father. I visited him at home a couple of times and visited him while on his sick bed few weeks ago’, Mr. Sani wrote.
Mr. Sani described late Mr Coomassie as a patriot, an elder-statesman, a through-bred professional and a man ever passionate about his country and people.
“We lost a patriot, an Elder-statesman, a through bred professional and a man ever passionate about his country and his people. May his soul Rest in Aljanna, he wrote.
Mr. Sani was detained in July 1993 under the military regime of Ibrahim Babagida for advocating re-validation of the result of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by late Moshood Abiola. He was also implicated in the 1995 phantom coup under the Sani Abacha dictatorship and detained in Kirikiri Prisons.