Shehu Buba: I sponsored Hassan’s education before he turned against me

Senator Shehu Buba Umar has broken his silence over allegations recently levelled against him by Hassan, giving an account of their relationship and how the young man became a beneficiary of his foundation.

The senator said his relationship with Hassan began through his foundation, which he said provides scholarships and support to orphans, vulnerable persons and sick people.

According to him, Hassan was introduced to the foundation after expressing a desire to continue his education and explaining that his father was deceased.

“He was brought in as one of the beneficiaries of the foundation. He told me that he wanted to go to school and that his father had died. That was why he was enrolled among those receiving the foundation’s support,” he said.

Shehu Buba explained that because of Hassan’s age and educational needs, he contacted Islamic scholar Sheikh Musa Yusuf Asadussunna to help find a suitable school where Hassan could combine conventional and Islamic education.

He said the cleric subsequently helped secure a conventional school for Hassan, while he personally provided additional assistance, including purchasing a bicycle for him to travel to school.

The senator said the relationship later deteriorated after Hassan decided to abandon his education and pursue a trade, including car dealing.

According to him, Hassan had completed three terms when he informed him of his decision to discontinue his studies.

“I told him: ‘You are an orphan and you have already started your education. You should continue with your schooling. If you want to go into the car business, that is your choice, but I took you in and gave you the opportunity because I wanted you to go to school,’” he said.

Shehu Buba alleged that Hassan became angry after being advised to continue his education and subsequently stopped attending school for between one and three weeks before leaving his residence.

The senator further alleged that Hassan had been taking photographs and recording videos of people who visited his residence while he was staying there.

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“Apparently, whenever people came to my house, he would record them on video and take their pictures,” he alleged.

Shehu Buba said that after Hassan left, he began making what the senator described as defamatory statements and political propaganda against him, allegedly with the assistance of some social media personalities

He said his lawyers subsequently petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, leading to the matter being referred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

“Four people were arrested—two in Kano, one in Bauchi and one in Abuja. And as I am speaking to you now, the matter is before the court,” he said.

The senator also alleged that Hassan subsequently left Nigeria for Niger Republic, from where he continued making allegations against him.

Shehu Buba maintained that anyone with evidence against him should submit it to the appropriate security agencies rather than use social media to make accusations.

“If he has anything, if he has any genuine evidence, social media is not the place where he should be making these allegations,” he said.

He said the allegations would not distract him from his responsibilities, expressing confidence in God and the country’s formal institutions.

The senator also urged Nigerians to judge the allegations against him based on verifiable facts and the outcome of proper investigations rather than claims circulated online.

“If there is anything genuine, it should be taken to the security agencies, investigated and verified,” he said.

Shehu Buba’s account comes amid growing public attention surrounding the allegations made against him by Hassan, with calls from different quarters for the claims to be independently investigated and established.

The allegations against the senator remain unproven, and his account represents his response to the claims.