A prominent political associate of late former President Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Kailani Mohammed, has alleged that the ex-leader was poisoned during his early years in office — a development he claims was behind Buhari’s extended medical leave abroad in 2017.
TJ News Nigeria reports that Professor Mohammed made the startling revelation during an interview with Daily Trust, stating that the former president was in good health prior to the incident.
“They poisoned the man, a very nice man. When he came back after six months of medical treatment, he wasn’t himself again,” Prof. Mohammed told Daily Trust. “He has not been sick since before he got to power,” he added. 
According to him, Buhari’s months-long medical treatment in London in 2017 was not due to natural illness, as widely believed, but allegedly the result of foul play orchestrated by unknown individuals.
Professor Mohammed, who identified himself as one of Buhari’s earliest loyalists, recounted how a small group stood by the former military ruler throughout his political journey.
“Many of the people being mentioned with Buhari today were not there. There was a time only three of us were behind Buhari, and we kept fighting for a good 16 years,” he said.
Mohammed claimed some members of their support group suffered harsh consequences. “People were maimed, and people were killed. I went to prison several times; many people did,” he stated.
The political figure also narrated an incident from the early days of Buhari’s first term, in which the then-president hosted a breakfast meeting at the Presidential Villa.
He said over 150 individuals were invited to that meeting — people whom Buhari saw as untainted by Nigeria’s longstanding corruption. “The current president was there too,” he revealed, referring to then Vice President Bola Tinubu, now Nigeria’s President.
Mohammed suggested that Buhari had intended to implement sweeping reforms through these individuals, describing them as potential “agents of change.”
However, Professor Mohammed said a powerful inner circle within the presidency — often referred to as “the cabal” — obstructed Buhari’s plans.
“These cabals prevented him from implementing the right policies. Had they allowed him, Nigeria would have been in a better position today,” he said.
He further attributed current national challenges such as worsening insecurity, growing poverty, and economic decline to decisions inherited from Buhari’s administration.
In 2017, President Buhari spent over 100 days in London undergoing medical treatment for an undisclosed illness, sparking nationwide concern and speculation. At the time, the presidency offered limited details, only confirming that he was undergoing “routine medical check-ups.”
Buhari returned in August 2017 but appeared visibly frail, fueling further public discourse about the nature of his illness.
As of the time of this report, neither the presidency nor Buhari’s family has officially responded to Professor Mohammed’s claims. The federal government has also made no statement addressing the poisoning allegation.
Professor Kailani Mohammed is known as a staunch ally of Buhari and has been vocal about political and governance issues over the years. He was an active pro-Buhari campaigner during the president’s multiple attempts at the presidency before his eventual success in 2015.
The poisoning claim adds a new dimension to the mysteries surrounding Buhari’s health challenges during his first term in office. It may also reignite discussions around the influence of political elites and hidden power structures within Nigeria’s seat of power.
