Alleged Defamation: Bauchi High Court Adjourns Case to June 30
From Abdulwahab Muhammad, Bauchà Bauchi
The Bauchi State High Court No. 7, under the leadership of Justice Lamido Kabir Umar, has adjourned a high-profile defamation case to June 30, 2025. The suit was filed by Dr. Usman Mohammed Aliyu, a lecturer with the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, against Professor Kabiru, the Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, and a postgraduate student, Kamila Rufa’i Aliyu.
The adjournment followed a formal request by the plaintiff’s counsel, Barrister Nasiru Ilelah, who informed the court of his travel to Mecca to perform the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.
Background to the Case
The case originated from a petition filed by Kamila Rufa’i’s husband, Alhaji Ja'afaru Buba, accusing Dr. Aliyu of sexually harassing his wife, who is an M.Eng. student in the same department. The petition was sent to the university’s Vice Chancellor and copied to the Head of Department and the Bauchi office of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
In the petition, Buba's legal team, led by Barrister Mohammed Sani Esq, alleged that Dr. Aliyu abused his position by making repeated sexual advances toward Kamila. According to the complaint, Dr. Aliyu invited her to his office on several occasions and sent inappropriate WhatsApp messages, despite knowing she is married.
“Our client refused all such advances. Following her resistance, Dr. Aliyu allegedly threatened to fail her and obstruct her graduation,” Barrister Sani stated.
The petition also included screenshots of the alleged WhatsApp conversations as supporting evidence. It urged the university to launch an independent investigation and apply appropriate sanctions if the lecturer was found culpable.
Lecturer Files Defamation Suit
In response to the petition, Dr. Usman Mohammed Aliyu filed a defamation lawsuit, naming Professor Kabiru and Kamila Rufa’i as co-defendants. He is seeking legal redress, claiming that the allegations damaged his personal and professional reputation.
At the latest court session, Kamila's counsel, Barrister Sani Mohammed, asked the court to strike out her name from the suit, arguing that she should not be a party to the defamation claim.
However, Justice Lamido rejected the application. In his ruling, he said:
“The court, having carefully scrutinized both the legal arguments and the affidavit of the claimant—particularly paragraphs 9, 10, and 11—and in line with Order 5 of the Bauchi State High Court Rules, finds that there is a cause of action against the second defendant. Therefore, the motion to strike out her name is dismissed.”
Justice Lamido added that any party dissatisfied with the ruling has the right to appeal within 90 days.
What Happens Next
With the matter adjourned to June 30, 2025, all eyes will be on the Bauchi High Court as the case unfolds. It touches on sensitive issues of sexual misconduct, academic power dynamics, and legal redress in higher institutions—a combination that has stirred considerable public interest in the academic community and beyond.
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