Convicted Cross-border Robbery Kingpin, Hamani Tidjani, Dies In Prison After 10 Years In Custody-PREMIUM TIMES

Hamani Tidjani

Suspected trans-border car snatcher, Hamani Tidjani, has died after 10 years in prison custody, PREMIUM TIMES has confirmed.

Mr. Tidjani, who was arrested by the police for allegedly masterminding a car snatching syndicate across the Nigeria-Benin Republic border, breathed his last at 9 a.m. on Sunday.

The spokesperson of the Lagos Command of the Nigerian Prisons Service, Biyi Jeje, told PREMIUM TIMES Mr. Tidjani had been suffering partial stroke over the past nine months.

“We had given him series of medical attention but his condition worsened. We informed the Lagos State government but they thought we were making spurious assertions,” Mr. Jeje said.

The Lagos State team finally visited Mr. Tidjani in late December to confirm his illness, according to Mr. Jeje.

“We’d expected that they would come back with their medical team. But up till this morning, they never came,” he added.
Mr. Tidjani was arrested in September, 2003 and had been facing trial before Sybil Nwala of a Lagos High Court on a three-count charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery, and receiving stolen goods.

When contacted, J.H Bashir, the deceased’s lawyer told PREMIUM TIMES that he was heading to the Kirikiri Prison to confirm the development.

“If it is true, then an act of injustice has been done as far as we are concerned and the Lagos State government and the Obasanjo government are the ones responsible,” Mr. Bashir added.