Bauchi Lawyer Challenges Media Report, Denies Fraud Allegations

A legal practitioner, Barr Zubairu Bube, has challenged a company, I.A. Makayye and its managing director, Isiaka Mohammed Aliyu for what he described as malicious allegations against him published in December.

Barrister Zubairu Bube said, the publication was titled “How Bauchi Governor’s Nephew allegedly used courts, lawyers to remand EFCC witness in N4.6 Billion fraud case” dated December 26, 2025.”

Barrister Bube recalled that in the said publication, his name and professional organisation, DM Abejeme & Partners was recklessly mentioned and grossly misrepresented, describing the gamut as false, malicious, and calculated to malign his person and professional integrity.

Bube stated, “For the avoidance of doubt and to set the record straight, the allegations attributed against me in the said publication is in connection to one Isiaka Mohammed Aliyu, Managing Director of I. S. Makayye whom I once represented in my legal capacity in Suit No:BA/688M/24”

Barrister Zubairu Bube explained that Isiaka Mohammed Aliyu was introduced to him by his cousin, Aliyu Galoji, upon which approach he complained of issues at a police station at Tafawa Balewa Housing Estate as well as State CID.

Bube said, “I intervened strictly in my professional capacity, and he was released on bail. Subsequently, he narrated to me his alleged ordeal involving the 1st respondent in the above mentioned suit and 2 others who, according to him, arrested him using a private Peugeot 406, took him to Abuja, later claimed to be EFCC official, and coerced him to implicate Muntaka Mohammed Duguri in respect of funds transferred to his company’s account by one Asomugha General Enterprises for the purchase of motorcycles”.

“He further claimed he was compelled to deny knowledge of the said transactions and the opening of the Polaris Bank account, and that it was only after making such statements that he was released. When Mr. Duguri became aware of these events, he instituted an action at the High Court of Justice, Bauchi State, for enforcement of his fundamental rights against the said Jidda Abubakar Inuwa, Isiaka Mohammed Aliyu, and I.S. Makayye.”

According to Bube, he was later formally briefed to defend Isiaka Aliyu in a Suit No. BA/688M/24, who also informed him in the presence of his friend and cousin (Adamu and Aliyu), that he was fully aware of the transactions in question and that they were carried out with his consent.

“This position was reduced into writing in his Counter-Affidavit dated August 12, 2024. He personally read the counter affidavit prepared vide his brief to me, in the presence of his cousin Aliyu Galoji and his friend Adamu Wambai in rejoinder to the suit filed against him and his company in the suit No BA/688m/24 being a literate adult, before appending his signature”, Bube defended.

Barrister Zubairu A. Bube therefore wondered that, “To now allege deception or fabrication of court processes is not only false but intellectually dishonest, as portrayed by Sahara Reporters of 26 of December, 2025”.

Bube reflected, “The allegation that I colluded with Muntaka Mohammed Duguri or received a Honda Accord (EOD, ash colour) from him as gratification is a barefaced lie. I purchased and have been driving the said vehicle since July 2023, long before I ever heard the name Muntaka Mohammed Duguri, which was first mentioned to me by Isiaka Mohammed Aliyu himself in June 2024”.

Barrister Bube categorically explained that he had no prior relationship, meeting, or conversation with Mr. Duguri regarding Isiaka Mohammed Aliyu or any other matter neither have I represented Isiaka Mohammed Aliyu in 2023 when I bought my said vehicle.

Disturbingly, Bube remarked, Isiaka Mohammed Aliyu once informed him of alleged secret conversations with EFCC officers (a male and a female whom he claimed has reached the rank of a director in EfCC) in Abuja, aimed at implicating Mr. Duguri and even the Commissioner of Finance, Dr. Yakubu Adamu, for pecuniary gain, “He went as far as giving me a phone number to contact one of these individuals”.

“I firmly declined and advised him to desist and do what is right. My refusal and insistence on ethical conduct angered him and eventually led to his debriefing me in his matters despite the fact that I had earlier secured a favourable judgment for him in another suit, in the suit no BA/580m/24 which he was the first respondent”.

Barrister Bube succinctly puts it thus, “This rejoinder is necessary to protect my reputation from a calculated smear campaign designed to falsely link me with third parties. I remain a legal practitioner of integrity, and I reserve my right to seek appropriate legal redress against any further defamatory publication”.

Bube called on Isiaka Mohammed Aliyu and his organization to immediately as a matter of urgency withdraw or retract the statements made against him published by Sahara Reporters on the 26 day of December, 2025 which he described as false, malicious and calculated to defame his professional integrity.

He similarly wants Aliyu to publish a clear and unconditional retraction of all such statements as they relate to his personality and tender an unreserved apology in like manner within seven days from the date of the receipt of this rejoinder.

“In the event you disdain the content of this letter, I shall be left with no option but to become in the judiciary the last hope of the common man with legal action to seek readiness which cost and consequences will be borne by your organisation,” he added.