Sheikh Dahiru Usman-Bauchi disputes having written CJN

Sheikh Dahiru Usman-Bauchi, a well-known Islamic scholar in Bauchi State, has disassociated himself from a letter that has been making the rounds on social media about the legal dispute over Kano State’s governorship.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, was the recipient of the alleged letter titled “Request for Prompt Intervention of Justice,” which surfaced on social media and was intended to sway the Supreme Court’s decision.

Last Thursday, the Court of Appeal upheld the election petition tribunal’s decision to remove Governor Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and declare Dr. Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the victor. The Supreme Court had postponed making a decision in the Kano governorship appeal.

However, Sayyadi Tijjani, the vice chairman of the Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi Foundation and a son of the Islamic cleric, rejected the letter in a statement released on Sunday.

He said, “Our attention was drawn to the purported letter sent to the Chief Justice of Nigeria,” speaking on his father’s behalf. People are phoning from all walks of life to ask questions regarding the letter’s veracity and truth.

The fact of the matter is that Maulana Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi did not write the letter. Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi does not utilise the type of letterhead that is used.

“The Sheikh Dahiru Foundation’s letterhead was forgeried by the writers, and although the Sheikh does not sign any letters anymore, he does use a unique seal and stamp on all of his correspondence.”