A rape case in Bauchi State has taken a complex turn, with the complainant, Lubabatu Yusuf, accusing the Police of failing to investigate her claims but instead arrested her husband over allegations of defamation and aiding kidnapping.
Mrs Yusuf had alleged that Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI) 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 DSI Muazu’s arrest. However, within 24 hours, Muazu was granted bail and allegedly turned the table on Samaila, accusing him of aiding and abetting kidnapping in Zamfara State before fleeing to Bauchi State to hide.
Our correspondent reports that Samaila has been in Police detention for over a week now.
Lubabatu, speaking to journalists on Friday, expressed frustration over the failure of the Police to investigate her allegations of rape against the Immigration officer.
Her lawyer, Alkassim Muhammad, also criticised DSI Muazu’s release on bail and wrote a letter to the Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, demanding the suspect’s re-arrest. The letter emphasised the seriousness of the alleged rape case and urged a thorough investigation into the matter.
Meanwhile, the Bauchi State Police Command has denied any bias in the case.
Spokesperson of the Police Command, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, however, confirmed the arrest of Lubabatu’s husband (Samaila) on allegations of defamation, intimidation, and aiding kidnapping against him. He explained that the Command was acting on a formal complaint filed by DSI Muazu’s lawyer with evidence implicating Samaila.
On the rape case reported by Lubabatu’s husband, SP Wakil acknowledged the ongoing investigation into the matter but noted that both parties opted for an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process due to the nature of the offence. He also added that Lubabatu’s initial petition lacked concrete evidence.
“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,” the PPRO stated.
SP Wakil assured of the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensure justice in the matter.
On the rape case against the Immigration officer, SP 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.”
