By Ahmad Saka
The Bauchi State High Court 7 presided over by Justice Lamido Kabir Umar has adjourned hearing of an alleged defamation suit filed by a lecturer with the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi, Dr. Usman Mohammed Aliyu his employer to 30th June, 2025.
Aliyu, a lecturer with the Department of Chemical Engineering of ATBU had last year filed the suit against the HOD, Prof Kabiru and a female student Kamila Rufai Aliyu.
The adjournment was because of a letter filed by counsel to the Plaintiff, Barrister Nasiru Ilelah in which he informed the court that he travelled to Mecca to perform this year's Hajj Pilgrimage.
Recall that Kamila Rufa'i's husband Alhaji Ja'afaru Buba had sent a petition to the authorities of the ATBU University to investigate the conduct of Dr Aliyu of the Department of Chemical Engineering for alleged sexual harassment of his wife who refused to have illicit affairs with him.
Buba's lawyers had filed a petition before the Vice Chancellor of the University and copied the Head of Department Chemical Engineering Department, A.T.B.U. Bauchi and Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Independent Currupt Practices ICPC. Bauchi, Office.
Buba's Chief Counsel Barrister Mohammed Sani Esq said "We hereby forward this complaint to you for and behalf of our client, Camila Rufa'i Aliyu of Chemical Engineering Department, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi against Dr. Usman Mohammed Aliyu, a lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering.
"That our client is an M.Eng. Chemical Engineering Student of the University, wherein Dr. Usman Mohammed Aliyu taught her CHE 635 (polymer processing and its application) and now teaches her, CHE 656(Fluidization).
"However, it's in view of the student, lecturer relationship, the said Dr. Usman Mohammed Aliyu took advantage of harassing our client sexually. At several times and without lawful justification invited her to his office and also sending her unbecoming love messages through Whatsapp despite knowing that our client is a married woman. It's pertinent for you to know that our client did not honour any of his invitation.
"That, due to the resistance of our client. the said Dr. Usman Mohammed Aliyu informed our client's friends that he will fail her in the examination as she will not graduate as an M.Eng. Student from the University.
"He also on a personal basis informed our client of the same threat because of her resistance to have sex with him", Counsel to the petitioner alleged "that the conduct of Dr. Usman Mohammed Aliyu is against the University Laws and conditions of service".
He urged the varsity management of ATBU to conduct discrete investigation in this matter and sanction Dr. Usman Mohammed Aliyu in accordance with the university law and condition of service in order to serve as deterrence to other lecturers.
Barrister Sani attached the alleged Whatsapp chat/conversation of Dr. Usman Mohammed Aliyu and their client as proof of their complaint for consideration and necessary act.
He said when they filed their petition the University Management pledged to investigate and do justice to it, but in a twist the embattled lecturer filed a suit before Bauchi State High court and alleged defamation.
Counsel to the second Defendant Kamila Rufa'i , Barrister Sani Mohammed prayed the court to strike out the name of Kamila on the suit, which was opposed by Aliyus counsel
In his ruling Justice Lamido refused to strike out the Kamila’s name, He said "the court having carefully scrutinised both issues and the affidavit evidence of claimant particularly paragraph 9 ,10, 11 and order 5 of the Bauchi State High Court rule disclose a cause of action against the second defendant, therefore the court dismissed the motion."
Justice Lamido said any party who was not satisfied with the ruling has a right of appeal within 90 days.
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