Paternity Tussle: How Court Blocked Police From Receiving Complaints, Investigating Allegations Against Ex-Minister

An Upper Area sitting in Kado, the Federal Capital City of Abuja, has issued an order prohibiting the Nigeria Police from accepting or conducting any investigation into a paternity dispute and an allegation of sexual impropriety levelled against an ex-Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki, by a woman who allegedly had a child for him out of wedlock. THE NEWSHAUS can report:

Turaki’s prayers were granted after his counsel filed an ex-parte motion on September 2nd, and Hon. Shehu Ahmadu directed the Inspector-General of Police and his officers not to accept any complaint from Musa Baffa, Uwani Arabi, and their daughter, Hadiza Baffa because an action was already before the court.

“Respondents, particularly the 4th to 10th respondents, are hereby restrained from accepting any complaint from the 1st to 3rd respondents (parents and daughter), particularly the 2nd respondent (Hadiza), or conducting any investigation relating to the applicant because the matter is already before a competent court of law, the Upper Area Court Kado FCT, in CV/35/2024, until the motion on notice before this court is determined.”

“This order is issued with the hand and seal of the honourable judge.”

Turaki filed a motion, number M/26/2024, against Musa Baffa (father), Hadiza Baffa (daughter), Uwani Arabi (mother), and the Nigeria Police Force as the first to fourth respondents, respectively.

The application also lists the I-G, DIG Sylvester Alabi (DIG Force CID), AIG Muhammad Dan Kwara (Force CID), CP Musbahu Ajani (CP Admin, Force CID), CSP Mohammed Gashua, and SP Ibrahim Shugaba as the 5th to 10th respondents.

Turaki sued Musa, Hadiza, and Uwani as the first through third defendants in the substantive suit, CV/35/2024, filed before the court.

While the former Minister denied being responsible for Hadiza’s pregnancy, which resulted in a baby girl, insisting that Hadiza had a boyfriend who he said was responsible for the pregnancy, Hadiza’s mother, Uwani Arabi (2nd defendant), claimed in the defendants’ statement of defence that Turaki chose to serve as her daughter’s guardian but took advantage of her and got her pregnant.

Furthermore, Uwani stated in the defendants’ joint statement of defence that she had no idea the Senior Advocate had ulterior motives when he offered to help with her daughter’s education. Turaki told them he was taking her under his wing as his daughter, then turned around and initiated sexual relations with her.

Refuting Turaki, SAN’s criminal allegations against them, the trio, Musa Bashir Baffa (1st Defendant and Hadiza’s father), Hadiza Musa Baffa (2nd Defendant), and Uwani Arabi (3rd Defendant and Hadiza’s mother) in their joint statement of defence maintained that the ex-minister exploited and used them only to run to court after the Human Rights Radio (Brekete) invited him for intervention following his refusal to take care of his little daughter whose antenatal and birth

Hadiza and Uwani claimed that the ex-Minister approached the third defendant (Uwani) and offered to help her daughter “by enrolling her into Baze University in Abuja, bearing the cost of her education and accommodation; and serving as her guardian.”

They claimed Hadiza paid N950,000 in registration fees when she was admitted in 2014, and the ex-minister gave her $2,000 to cover the costs.

Uwani, who claimed she did not influence the Senior Advocate’s decision, also stated that she did not believe Turaki had any ulterior motives towards her daughter. She also stated that, contrary to Turaki’s claim that she begged him to give her daughter a car, she never discussed the matter with the ex-minister.

Hadiza, for her part, claimed that she never suspected Turaki’s benevolence towards her was intended to benefit her.

According to her, the plaintiff called her to pick up the Toyota Almera from his office at T. Y. Danjuma Street, Asokoro, Abuja, and she was surprised to see that the car particulars included her name as “Hadiza Turaki.”

Hadiza claimed that Turaki changed her name to “Hadiza Turaki” by writing it on the vehicle papers he purchased for her and convincing her to use the same name on her Guarantee Trust Bank account number, through which he sent money to her several times through his account officer.

Hadiza claimed that the Plaintiff exploited her under the guise of being her guardian, frequently visiting her in the apartments he rented for her, and repeatedly luring her into an illicit sexual relationship.

The plaintiff threatened her not to inform her parents about his exploitative behaviour, causing her to be scared and traumatised, which affected her studies.

She claimed that he frequently visited her in the flat he rented for her and repeatedly pressured her into having sexual intercourse with him. On multiple occasions, the Plaintiff has threatened to withdraw financial support.

Under threat and coercion, she succumbed to his sinister intentions. In addition, the plaintiff threatened the 2nd Defendant not to inform the 3rd Defendant, her mother, about his sexual exploitation of her. As a result, she was afraid to inform her until a long time later.

According to her, when the plaintiff realised she was experiencing psychological and physical trauma, he kept promising to marry her and began having romantic phone and WhatsApp conversations with her.

Hadiza claimed that when she discovered she was pregnant Turakiwithhe informed him, and he took several steps, including phone calls to her, to coerce and push her into aborting the pregnancy.

She stated that despite being advised against terminating the pregnancy and the risks involved, she chose to continue it.

She claimed Turaki became enraged with her when she refused to listen to him.

Hadiza said she gave birth to the baby girl on April 3, 2023. “When the plaintiff later saw the baby, he recognised her as his daughter due to their striking resemblance.”

She also claimed that the former minister paid for the baby girl’s antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care at Nizamiyye Hospital in Abuja.

In 2016, the Minister claimed that Uwani, who he knew in Kano pbeforeherbeforee to Musa, contacted him for advice on relocating her daughter Hadiza, who was then attending the University of Maiduguri due to Boko Haram’s activities.

He said he advised Uwani to enrol her daughter at Bayero University in Kano, Usman Danfodiyo University in Sokoto, or the University of Ilorin.

Turaki stated that after several weeks of the previous discussion, Uwani called and informed him that she was travelling to Abuja with Hadiza and begged him to arrange for their accommodations.

He said he obliged by booking a room at Ideal Guest House, Garki, which is a furnished flat available for short or long stays.

He stated that Uwani secured Hadiza’s admission to Baze University in Abuja, and he provided her with N1 million of the N3 million required for registration.

He claimed that Uwani begged him to serve as Guardian for her daughter Hadiza.

The former Minister, who claimed to be responsible for Hadiza’s well-being, was surprised to learn that Hadiza conspired with her mother to change her surname to Turaki without his knowledge or consent.

He claimed that when Hadiza’s criminal activities became so severe, he drove her away and directed his staff not to allow her near her office again.

He claimed that after abandoning the daughter and mother for about a month, Uwani called him and asked to see him.

He stated that during the meeting, Uwani informed him that her daughter was pregnant and that he was responsible.

Turaki claimed that he flatly denied the allegation, characterising it as blackmail.

The hearing was adjourned until September 24 for further proceedings.