An Upper Area Court in Kado, Abuja, has restrained the police from investigating a paternity dispute against former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs Kabiru Turaki, pending the hearing and determination of the case.
The presiding judge, Shehu Ahmadu, in a ruling, ordered the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police and his officers not to accept any complaint from Musa Baffa, Uwani Arabi, and their daughter, Hadiza Baffa, regarding the ex-minister as the matter is already before the court.
The judge issued the order following an ex-parte motion moved by Turaki’s counsel on Sept. 2. A certified true copy of the order was made available to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.
The judge said: “Respondents are hereby restrained, especially 4th to 10th respondents, from accepting any complaint from the 1st to 3rd respondents (parents and daughter), especially the 2nd respondent (Hadiza) or carrying any investigation relating to the applicant as the matter is already before a competent court of law, the Upper Area Court Kado FCT, in CV/35/2024 until the determination of the motion on notice before this court.
“This order Is given under the hand and seal of the honourable judge.”
Turaki had, in motion number M/26/2024, sued Musa Baffa (father), Hadiza Baffa (daughter), Uwani Arabi (mother), and the Nigeria Police Force as the first to fourth respondents, respectively.
Others listed in the application include 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 5th to 10th respondents.
In the substantive suit marked CV/35/2024, filed before the court, Turaki sued Musa, Hadiza, and Uwani as the first to third defendants.
The ex-minister denied being responsible for Hadiza’s pregnancy, which resulted in a baby girl.
He alleged that Hadiza had a boyfriend who he said was responsible for the pregnancy.
The ex-minister alleged that sometime in 2016, Uwani, who was a person known to him In Kano before her marriage to Musa, called him on the phone and sought his advice on her plans to relocate her daughter, Hadiza, “who was then schooling, according to her, at University of Maiduguri, because of the activities of Boko Haram.”
He advised Uwani to secure admission for her daughter at Bayero University, Kano, Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, or the University of Ilorin.
Turaki said that after some weeks of the previous discussion, Uwani called and told him she was coming to Abuja with Hadiza and begged him to arrange accommodation.
He said he obliged by securing accommodation at Ideal Guest House, Garki, a furnished apartment that is let out for short or long stays.
He said Uwani secured Hadiza’s admission at Baze University in Abuja and supported her with N1 million out of the N3 million for registration fees.
He alleged that Uwani pleaded with him to serve as Guardian for her daughter, Hadiza.
The ex-minister stated that he took responsibility for Hadiza’s upkeep and was surprised to discover that She conspired with her mother to change her surname to Turaki without his knowledge and consent.
He alleged that when Hadiza’s criminal acts became so intense, he drove her away and directed his staff not to allow her close to her office anymore.
He alleged that after walking out on the daughter and the mother for a month, Uwani called him and requested to see him.
During the meeting, he said that Uwani told him that her daughter was pregnant, and she said he was responsible.
Turaki averred that he denied the allegation, describing it as a blackmail.
He alleged that Musa, Hadiza’s father, who he said had abandoned the daughter for 28 years, called him around May regarding the issue.
However, in a statement of defence jointly filed by the parents and daughter, they denied Turaki’s allegations.
Hadiza and Uwani averred that the ex-minister reached out to 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.”
According to them, the plaintiff (Turaki) committed to doing everything for the second defendant because he considers her his daughter.
They alleged that Turaki suggested the university contrary to his claim.
They said Hadiza’s registration fees when she gained admission in 2014 were N950 000, and the ex-minister gave her $2000 for the fees.
Uwani said contrary to Turaki’s claim, the former minister offered to serve as Hadiza’s guardian.
Uwani, who said she never requested or prompted such a decision, said that she did not suspect that Turaki had sinister motives towards her daughter at that time.
Hadiza averred that she never suspected that Turaki’s benevolence towards her was to take advantage of her.
Uwani said that contrary to Turaki’s claim that she begged him to give her daughter a car, the woman had never had such a discussion with the former minister.
According to her, the plaintiff called her to pick up the Toyota Almera from his office at T.Y. Danjuma Street, Asokoro, and she was surprised to see that the car particulars carried her name as “Hadiza Turaki.”
On her part, Hadiza alleged that Turaki had changed her name to “Hadiza Turaki” by putting the same on the vehicle papers he bought for her and persuaded her to use the same name on her Guarantee Trust Bank account number, through which he sent monies to her severally through his account officer.
Hadiza alleged that she had challenges with her education and faced physical and emotional trauma when the ex-minister “exploited her under the guise of being her guardian.
She alleged that he frequently visited her in the apartments and several times lured her into having illicit sexual relationships with him.
She further averred that the plaintiff severally threatened her not to let her parents know that he was taking advantage of her. Thus, she was scared and traumatised, and the trauma affected her and her studies.
According to her, when the plaintiff realised that she was going through psychological and physical trauma, he kept promising to marry her. He began to build romantic phone and WhatsApp conversations with her.
Hadiza alleged that when she discovered that she was pregnant with Turaki, she informed him, and he took several steps, including phone calls made to her, trying to compel and push her to abort the pregnancy.
She said she decided to keep the pregnancy against all odds when she was advised against terminating it and the risk involved.
She alleged that Turaki became wild against her when she refused to listen to him.
Hadiza said she delivered the baby girl on April 3, 2023
“And when the plaintiff later saw the baby, he acknowledged that she was his daughter due to the striking resemblance with him,” she alleged.
She further alleged that the ex-minister even paid monies for the antenatal, delivery and post-natal services of the baby girl at Nizamiyye Hospital.
The matter was adjourned until Sept. 24 for the continuation of the hearing.
