FORMER presidential aide and convener of the Grassroots Initiative Concept, Alwan Hassan, has regained his freedom after spending over 40 hours in police custody at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja.
A family source confirmed to News Point Nigeria that Hassan was released just after midnight on Saturday, following intense anticipation from associates and supporters who had gathered information all day without clarity on his fate.
Hassan’s detention came barely 24 hours after he honoured a police invitation at the FCID on Friday.
Sources said he arrived at the complex in the afternoon but remained in custody through the evening, prompting widespread speculation about the reasons behind the police action.
Although the police have yet to officially explain the petition or allegations that led to Hassan’s arrest, his detention closely follows a series of strong accusations he made against top figures in the National Assembly.
Earlier in the week, Hassan had publicly accused the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, of deliberately blocking the confirmation of Abdullahi Garba Ramat as Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Ramat, a technocrat from Kano, had been screened by the Senate Committee on Power and recommended for confirmation before the alleged obstruction.
Hassan claimed that the Senate leadership was engaging in “deliberate political obstruction,” insisting the stalling of the confirmation was driven by personal and political interests rather than procedural issues.
He further alleged that Senate officials demanded a staggering $10 million bribe from NERC nominees to secure their confirmation, a claim that immediately generated national controversy.
The Senate swiftly denied the allegations, describing Hassan’s claims as “baseless, malicious, and defamatory.”
In a statement, the legislative chamber insisted that the confirmation process for NERC nominees had been transparent and free of misconduct.
Lawmakers also hinted at possible legal action against Hassan, accusing him of attempting to smear the integrity of the National Assembly and mislead the public with unfounded claims.
Efforts by News Point Nigeria to obtain official clarification from the Nigeria Police Force proved unsuccessful. Calls and messages to the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, were not responded to as of press time.
Associates of the former presidential aide also said they were kept in the dark regarding the petition that prompted the police invitation, further fueling speculation about political pressure or institutional retaliation.