By Khalid Idris Doya
A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Bauchi State has issued a bench warrant against the governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Bauchi State and former Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Ibrahim Kashim Muhammad.
The order was issued on June 9, 2026, by Chief Magistrate I, Abdulmumini Adamu, in Suit No. CMCBH/870/2026, filed by Barrister Ahmed Sani and Barrister Hussaini Saraki against Ibrahim Kashim.
According to the court order, the warrant was granted following an application by counsel to the complainants, S.U. Sarki Esq., seeking the arrest of the defendant to compel his appearance before the court.
The court stated that, “Upon an application made by the learned counsel to the complainants seeking an order of bench warrant against the defendant for arrest to compel his attendance in court, and having listened to the submissions and reasons advanced therein, an order is hereby made for the arrest of the defendant in this case. If arrested, he shall be brought before this Honourable Court.”
The matter was subsequently adjourned to June 23, 2026.
Background to the Case, according to the complaint before the court, the complainants, both legal practitioners, visited the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja in November 2025 while representing former Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance and current Allied Peoples Movement (APM) governorship candidate, Dr. Yakubu Adamu, in matters involving the anti-graft agency.
The complainants alleged that Ibrahim Kashim was also present at the EFCC headquarters during the period and personally met and interacted with them.
The suit arose from comments allegedly made by Kashim during a live interview on Zamani TV, an online medium on June 3, 2026. The interview, conducted in Hausa, was broadcast to viewers within and outside Bauchi State.
According to court documents, Kashim specifically mentioned Barrister Hussaini Saraki by name and referred to another lawyer whom he claimed to know personally but whose name he did not mention.
The complainants alleged that Kashim Ibrahim stated during the interview that one of the lawyers had recently been accused of collecting money from a client without carrying out the agreed service. He also allegedly suggested that the lawyers may have been among those who informed government officials about his visit to the EFCC.
The complainants argued that the remarks were false, malicious and defamatory, insisting they never informed any government officials about Kashim’s visit to the EFCC.
They further maintained that the statements exposed them to public ridicule, damaged their professional reputations and caused members of the public to question their integrity and competence as legal practitioners.
The complainants contended that the publication conveyed that they were dishonest, untrustworthy and unfit to enjoy the confidence of clients and members of the public.
They therefore accused Kashim of committing the offences of Defamation under Section 387 and Injurious Falsehood under Section 388 of the Penal Code Law of Bauchi State, 2022.
In their complaint, they urged the court to take cognisance of the matter, issue criminal summons against the defendant, and, upon proof of the allegations, convict and punish him according to law.
Reacting to the development, Barr. Ibrahim Muhammad Kashim denied any attempt to evade the court process and explained that he had already travelled to Abuja before the summons was served.
“We wish to clarify to the public that the court summons in question was served on Sunday, at a time when I had already completed my travel arrangements to Abuja for important engagements that had been scheduled earlier,” he said.
He added that immediately after learning about the case, he instructed his lawyer to appear before the court and seek a new date for his appearance.
“It is therefore not right to interpret our absence as absconding or a refusal to accept the summons,” he stated.
Kashim affirmed his respect for the judiciary and expressed readiness to defend himself in court.
“We have full respect for the courts and the legal system, and we are ready to defend ourselves according to the law. We have not insulted anyone, and we have not committed any crime that would prevent us from telling the truth in court.
“God willing, we will appear in court at the scheduled time for the continuation of the trial, and we are confident that the truth will come out.”
