MURIC Fires Back at Terrorism Allegation Against Shehu Buba, Warns of ‘Political Witch-hunt’
Muslim Rights Concern rejects allegations that the Bauchi senator financed terrorism, demands investigation of the man behind a viral video and warns against criminal charges against political defectors.
By Abdullahi Yusuf
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has rejected allegations that Senator Shehu Buba Umar financed terrorism, describing the claim as false and accusing those behind a viral video of attempting to blackmail the Bauchi South senator.
The group also warned against what it described as a growing pattern of opposition politicians and political defectors facing criminal allegations after changing political allegiance.
The position was contained in a statement issued on Friday by MURIC Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, who said the group had been alerted to allegations linking Buba to the financing of terrorism.
Akintola said the allegation was “false, malicious and vainglorious”, arguing that it was intended to ridicule the senator and damage his reputation.
He specifically called for an investigation into Hassan Hussein, whom MURIC identified as the person behind the viral video in which the allegations were made.
Akintola described Hussein in strongly worded terms and alleged that he was seeking to blackmail the senator, while urging security agencies to investigate him.
“Shehu Buba is a patriotic politician and a serving senator who has no motive to turn against his country,” Akintola said.
The MURIC statement comes days after Buba himself rejected fresh allegations linking him to banditry, describing viral videos circulating about him as part of what he called a campaign of disinformation and character assassination. Buba said the videos had been manipulated and denied that they showed bandit leaders visiting his residence.
The controversy comes as Buba pursues a political career on the platform of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), having emerged as the party’s candidate for the 2027 Bauchi State governorship election. The Independent National Electoral Commission subsequently published his name as the party’s candidate.
MURIC linked the allegations against Buba to a wider political concern, warning against what it called a trend in which politicians who defect from one party to another or join the opposition subsequently face criminal allegations.
“We warn against the growing trend of political defectors and opposition politicians facing post-defection criminal charges,” Akintola said.
He urged the authorities to allow Nigeria’s democracy to develop without what he described as political witch-hunts and attempts at blackmail.
The group’s statement did not present independent evidence addressing the underlying allegations against Buba. Its intervention instead focused on rejecting the claims and calling for scrutiny of the person it identified as their source.
MURIC’s intervention adds another layer to the controversy surrounding the senator, who has consistently denied allegations linking him to banditry and has called for claims against him to be tested against evidence.
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