Turaki Vs Hadiza: Group Wants IG To Sanction Officers At FCID

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun

The Arewa Renaissance Group has appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun to sanction police officers at Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) handling the case involving a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki and Hadiza.

News Rider reports that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had on Tuesday, declined to grant the request of Turaki to stop the police from presenting the DNA test result in the paternity case with a lady, Hadiza Baffa in another court.

The trial Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling on an ex-parte motion, moved by Turaki’s counsel, Abdulaziz Ibrahim, SAN, held that he could not grant the relief sought by the former minister without hearing from the respondents.

But the coordinator of the group, Usman Abba chided the investigating team led by Deputy Commissioner of Police incharge of gender over poor handling of the case.

 

Abba described the investigation as poor, given the alleged compromise and hurried nature of the investigation, which clearly exposed external interference from a perceived enemy of the accused.

He noted that policing encompasses neutrality, conscience and fairness, adding that the DCP and other officers have taken side, which automatically disqualified them.

Abba said: "For instance, a DNA test was agreed and carried out. The result was not shown to the accused but made available to the petitioners and they posted it online against the ethics. 

"We therefore urge the IGP in fairness to sanction the DCP and her team for that."

Recall that IGP Egbetokun had earlier requested for the takeover of the case by DFI which the DCP defied for reasons best known to her.

According to Justice Ekwo, "Upon studying the motion ex-parte and the averments in the affidavit in support, including the affidavit of urgency, I am of the opinion that the prayers cannot be granted without hearing from the respondents."

He ordered Turaki to put all the respondents in the application on notice within two days of the order.