Senator Shehu Buba Umar (Bauchi South) has provided a detailed account of his relationship with Hassan, the individual who recently made explosive allegations linking him to banditry, painting the accuser as a disgruntled former beneficiary of his foundation who became upset after being advised to continue his education.
The senator’s explanation comes amid a firestorm of controversy after Hassan, in a series of social media videos, named the senator as the politician he had previously accused of sponsoring banditry and training criminal elements in northern Nigeria. Hassan claimed to have gathered photographs and video recordings showing Umar interacting with people he identified as bandits, and alleged that suspected bandits were accommodated at the senator’s residence.
In a statement on Thursday, Senator Shehu Buba said his relationship with Hassan began through his foundation, which provides educational scholarships and assistance to orphans and people in need. He said Hassan was introduced as a prospective beneficiary after informing the foundation that he wanted to pursue his education and that his father was deceased.
Given Hassan’s age, the senator said he contacted an Islamic scholar, Sheikh Musa Yusuf Asadussunna, to help secure a suitable school that would provide both conventional and Islamic education. He added that he personally bought Hassan a bicycle to enable him to attend school.
The relationship became strained, the senator recounted, after Hassan informed him that he wanted to discontinue his education and pursue a trade, including car dealing. “So I reprimanded him,” Senator Shehu Buba said. “I told him: ‘You are an orphan and you have already started your education. You should continue with your schooling… If you do not want to continue your education, then there is nothing more I can do”.
According to the senator, Hassan became upset and stopped attending school before eventually leaving his residence. He further alleged that while Hassan was staying at his residence, he had been taking photographs and recording videos of visitors to the house.
Hassan’s allegations, however, go far beyond a personal dispute. In his interviews, he claimed that Senator Shehu Buba had sponsored one Babangida, the brother of notorious bandit kingpin Dogo Gide, and several other bandits for training in Abuja. He alleged that the senator accommodated bandits at his residence in Abuja and introduced them to security personnel who trained them on how to operate drones and sniper rifles. Hassan also claimed that military equipment, including night-vision devices, were provided to bandits, with some items allegedly sent to wanted kingpin Bello Turji.
Hassan further claimed that he had informed a contact in the Department of State Services (DSS) about the alleged training, but was told that “we can’t do anything about this matter because this person is foul”.
The accuser also claimed that when he attempted to leave Nigeria for Niger Republic, the senator allegedly sent his Personal Assistant to locate him, and that both he and the aide were subsequently apprehended by security personnel.
Hassan has presented photographs and videos which he claims support his allegations. One image, which has circulated widely, shows the senator in what appears to be a private jet with individuals Hassan identifies as bandits.
However, independent fact-checking has cast doubt on some of the materials. PRNigeria, in a review of one viral video, reported that the material combined footage from apparently unrelated events. According to its verification, some of the men seen in one section of the video were pilgrims who visited Umar in 2023, rather than confirmed bandits. The organisation described the viral content as false and misleading.
Senator Shehu Buba has urged anyone with allegations against him to submit evidence to the appropriate authorities rather than rely on social media platforms. “He should bring whatever evidence he has and present it to the security agencies so that they can investigate the allegations,” he said.
The senator’s legal representatives have petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, and the matter has been referred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for investigation. Four people have been arrested in connection with the matter—two in Kano, one in Bauchi, and one in Abuja—and the case is currently before the court.
Senator Shehu Buba also alleged that Hassan had subsequently left Nigeria for Niger Republic and had continued to make statements from outside the country. He accused Hassan of aligning himself with individuals attempting to exploit the matter for political purposes.