Bauchi Rape Case: Victim’s Husband Detained By Police 

By Amina Abdullahi Girbo.

 
A rape case in Bauchi state has taken a complex turn, with the alleged victim Lubabatu Yusuf accusing the police of failing to investigate her claims, while her husband faces charges of defamation and aiding kidnapping.

Yusuf alleges that Deputy Superintendent of Immigration Sani Sale Muazu raped her multiple times, even in the presence of her two children.

Her husband, Yusuf Samaila, initially reported the crime to the police, leading to Muazu’s arrest. However, within 24 hours, Muazu secured bail and turned the tables on Samaila, accusing him of aiding and abetting kidnapping. Samaila has been in detention for over a week.

Lubabatu, speaking to journalists on Friday, expressed frustration with the police’s apparent lack of investigation into her case. Her lawyer, Alkassim Muhammad, also criticised Muazu’s release on bail and wrote a letter to the police commissioner demanding the suspect’s re-arrest. The letter emphasized the seriousness of the alleged rape and urged a thorough investigation.

Meanwhile, the police deny any bias. Spokesperson SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil confirmed Samaila’s arrest on charges of defamation, intimidation, and aiding kidnapping. He explained that they were acting on a complaint filed by Muazu’s lawyer and claimed to have evidence implicating Samaila.

Regarding the rape case, Wakil acknowledged the ongoing investigation but noted that both parties opted for an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process due to the capital nature of the offense. He added that Lubabatu’s initial petition lacked concrete evidence.

When contacted, the police command public relation officer, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, said, “The case against Yusuf Samaila is based on criminal defamation, criminal intimidation, and offences bothering on aiding and abetting an offence to-wit kidnapping.

“The command received a petition from Naziru Umar & Co. chambers on behalf of his client Sani Saleh Muazu against the said Yusuf Samaila, and based on that, he was arrested. Our investigation has so far indicted and revealed that he absconded from Zamfara, where he was being trailed by Policemen who arrested his accomplice at Zamfara after a heavy gun duel and presently hiding in Bauchi at Giwo estate.”

“We have duly filed our motion ex parte in compliance with section 304 of the ACJL Bauchi state 2022 for remand pending the arrival of legal advice and necessary action from the DPP.”

SP Wakil assured the command’s unwavering commitment to foster the course of Justice.

On the rape case against the immigration officer, Wakil said, “The case is still under investigation as the two lawyers opted for ADR because it is a capital case, it cannot be compounded, and her initial petition is based on metaphysical, which is not easy to prove.”