By Mumini AbdulKareem
Six years after his arrest by the operatives of the Directorate of State Security Services (DSS), the long wait for freedom of Abdullahi Mustapha Berende appears imminent, National Pilot gathered, last night.
Recall that Berende was whisked away from his Agbo-Oba resident, Ilorin since 2012 in a Gestapo style by the DSS over alleged act of espionage and terrorism.
It however appeared that he may finally gained his freedom soon. To this end, some of his relatives including his younger brother, Yakub Berende have relocated to Abuja to perfect conditions for his release, this medium learnt.
The development, a source in the know confided in this medium was due to the favourable judgment secured by his counsel Mumini Anafi.
Efforts to get details of the judgment were not successful last night as his counsel refused to speak on the issue.
“I don’t want to speak to you publicly about the issue,” Anafi said in a telephone chat with our reporter from Abuja.
Also attempts to get his Personal Assistant, Kamaldeen Aremu to comment on the issue were futile.
According to sources, Berende had been released by the court and freed by the DSS who have granted his family free access to him.
“He has been freed and he is expected in the state in few weeks. Some of his families are already in Abuja perfecting his release conditions and they have made tremendous progress.
“Unlike before, he is more or less living like free man now and arrangement has reached advanced stage to finalise everything about his freedom,” the source added.
Since Berende’s arrest, the trial has suffered series of adjournments and he miraculously escaped being killed in the shootout between the DSS and Boko Haram inmates in a botched jailbreak at the service’s Abuja facility in 2013.
Two other suspects that were paraded with him by the DSS in 2013 had since been freed by the service.
The family had cried out to the government and “other relevant authorities” over his continued detention in Abuja.
His brother, Yakubu, Berende’s incarceration as an agonising period for the family especially since nothing had been established linking him to the charges.
Recall that former Justice of Federal High Court, Ilorin, Olayinka Faji dismissed DSS’ charges against Berende and ordered his release.
The judge also awarded N1.5m against the service for his unlawful detention then.
