Right of reply: Bala Kalu’s Denials Exposed: Court Papers Show Father’s Involvement in Calculate Case

Court documents have exposed a contradiction in the public denials by Adamawa State Commissioner for Environment, Mohammed Sadiq Mohammed, popularly known as Bala Kalu, revealing that his father, Alhaji Sadiq Wali, and younger brother, Alhaji Adamu Sadiq, were co-complainants in a defamation case that led to the arrest and detention of prominent Adamawa politician Umar Bello Jada, widely known as Calculate.

The revelation undermines the commissioner’s assertions that neither he nor his father were involved in the legal action.

The case, filed under number CMC/263 C2/2025 on May 30, 2025, at Adamawa Magistrate Court 2, stems from a viral audio recording allegedly defaming Alhaji Sadiq Wali.

Court filings, obtained by this newspaper, list both Wali and Adamu Sadiq as complainants in the application for a criminal summons, submitted under Sections 88, 89, 90(1), and 111(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2018. Notably, the documents bear Wali’s signature, directly contradicting Bala Kalu’s claims.

Calculate has been in custody since last Wednesday, spending the Eid-el-Kabir festivity behind bars. Magistrate Musa Alhaji imposed stringent bail conditions, requiring a surety of the rank of a first-class traditional ruler, specifically the Gangwari Ganye, making it nearly impossible for Calculate to secure release. This has fueled accusations from stakeholders that the state is weaponizing the judiciary to silence dissent.

Senator Ishaku Abbo amplified these concerns in a viral social media post, accusing Bala Kalu and Sadiq Wali of orchestrating Calculate’s legal troubles for political motives. The senator’s allegations prompted Bala Kalu to hold a press conference in Yola on Sunday, where he denied any involvement.

“I did not sue anyone, and my father also did not sue anyone,” he insisted, attributing the lawsuit solely to his brother Adamu’s response to the defamatory audio. Bala Kalu further dismissed claims of political motivation, asserting that the police were following due process based on a formal complaint.

However, the court documents tell a different story, confirming Sadiq Wali’s active role as a co-complainant. Critics argue this discrepancy raises questions about the commissioner’s credibility and suggests a coordinated effort to target Calculate, a vocal political figure.

The case has sparked widespread debate in Adamawa, with many viewing it as part of a broader trend of using legal mechanisms to suppress opposition voices.

As Calculate remains in detention, the controversy continues to cast a shadow over the state’s political landscape, with calls for transparency and justice growing louder.