Umar disclosed this on Monday, at a press conference where he said he was ready to subject himself to scrutiny by relevant security agencies to establish the truth behind the allegations.
Senator Shehu Buba Umar, representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, has voluntarily submitted himself to the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian police and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) for investigation over allegations linking him to banditry, terrorism financing, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
Umar disclosed this on Monday, at a press conference where he said he was ready to subject himself to scrutiny by relevant security agencies to establish the truth behind the allegations.
The senator described the allegations against him as politically motivated and defamatory, saying he decided to make himself available for investigation rather than allow the claims to continue circulating without being tested against credible evidence.
He said his legal team, led by former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, had formally written to the DSS, DIA and Police requesting comprehensive investigations into the allegations.
According to Umar, his decision was intended to ensure that claims made against him were handled through established investigative and legal processes rather than social media speculation.
“I categorically and unequivocally deny these allegations. I have never sponsored, financed, armed, facilitated, or supported banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, or any criminal organisation or activities whatsoever,” he said.
Umar said he had deliberately remained silent over the past month because of the sensitivity of his official responsibilities and legal restrictions surrounding matters already before the courts.
However, he said the allegations had reached a point where continued silence was no longer appropriate because of their potential implications for his reputation, political career, national security and public confidence in security institutions.
The senator challenged anyone who claimed to possess evidence linking him to criminal activities to submit such evidence to the appropriate security agencies rather than circulate allegations on social media.
“Do not hide behind social Media. Do not rely on edited videos, insinuations, propaganda, or anonymous allegations. Take whatever evidence you have to the appropriate security agencies and allow the law to take its course,” Umar said.
He also called on the security agencies to invite those making the allegations and require them to substantiate their claims with credible evidence capable of withstanding investigative scrutiny.
Umar said he was prepared to cooperate fully with the DSS, Police, DIA, military and other competent institutions as part of efforts to determine whether there was any substance to the allegations.
He added that he had also made himself available to relevant international organisations, including Amnesty International, over concerns that might have arisen from the claims against him.
The senator stressed that he was not seeking preferential treatment from any institution, insisting that the allegations should be subjected to the same investigative standards applicable to any other person.
“My position is simple: let every allegation be subjected to impartial scrutiny, let every piece of evidence be examined, and let the truth prevail,” he said.
Umar further pledged to face prosecution if investigators established a prima facie case against him on the basis of credible and verifiable evidence.
He said he would accept the consequences of the law if a competent court eventually found him guilty, describing his willingness to undergo investigation as a demonstration of his confidence in his innocence.
The senator also linked the allegations to his previous responsibilities as Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
He explained that the position required him to maintain regular engagements with military, intelligence and other security agencies on issues including banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other threats to national security.
Umar expressed concern that some of those legitimate and necessarily sensitive engagements could have been distorted and portrayed as evidence of relationships with criminal elements.
He said the investigation would provide an opportunity for the relevant institutions to examine the allegations, establish the facts and determine whether there was any credible basis for the claims.
The senator maintained that his decision to submit himself to the security agencies was aimed at protecting the integrity of the investigative process and ensuring that allegations of such serious nature were resolved through evidence and due process.
He urged Nigerians to allow the security agencies and the courts, rather than social media platforms, to determine the facts surrounding the allegations.
Umar said he remained confident that a thorough and impartial investigation would establish the truth.