Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami has denied link to the 2004 killing of Sunday Achi, a student of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.
Pantami made the denial on Tuesday in response to a post by X user @escobo123456, who Pantami linked to the death of Sunday Achi, a 400-level Architecture student who was killed by a mob on campus 20 years ago.
“You that killed a student in ATBU, you’re now forming holier than thou. Ori e ti daru pantami” were the words of @escobo123456 (Sodiq, who identifies as an ex-Muslim), wrote:
But Pantami has denied it, saying it as “100% untrue.”
“Thank you for saying your mind. You are making an allegation that is 100% untrue. I have never killed or directed anyone to kill anyone in my life. Either directly or indirectly,” Pantami wrote.
He challenged his accusers and those with evidence should “help the relatives of the deceased and take the matter to court. Alternatively, if you are strong enough, provide your full details so that I can take you to court for the false allegation.”
Pantami added that “Grok and other AI that you depend on to get input from the available information online. It could be wrong many times. If you are sure of your allegations, take the matter to court.
“Otherwise, let us have your verifiable details, do that we can meet in court. FYI, I have never presented any fatwa in that regard to kill anyone. If you have no need for online comments.
“Take it to court. Do not depend on an immature Hausa translator. Once again, let me have our verifiable details (not on verifiable name on X) to take you to court for the allegations.”
Father of the deceased, Professor Samuel Achi, had in 2021, said his son, who was a leader in a Christian students’ fellowship, was accused of circulating a tract alleged to contain blasphemous material. He maintained that the tract contained no such content.
The professor said his son was strangled inside the ATBU mosque in the early hours of December 9, 2004, and his body was later found outside the building, adding that both former governors of Kaduna and Bauchi states assisted in recovering the corpse.
Achi said he knew that Pantami was the Chief Imam of the ATBU mosque at the time, but did not directly accuse him of ordering or participating in the killing.
He said he had forgiven those responsible but insisted that “the blood of my son would always haunt whoever has a hand in killing him.”
