Court stops police from probing paternity dispute against ex-minister Kabiru Turaki

Kabiru Turaki

An Upper Area Court sitting in Kado, Abuja has restrained the police from investigating a paternity dispute against a former minister of special duties and inter-governmental affairs Kabiru Turaki.

The judge Shehu Ahmadu restrained the police from probing the former minister pending hearing and determination of the case.

Ahmadu ordered the police not to accept any complaint from Musa Baffa, Uwani Arabi and their daughter, Hadiza Baffa, concerning the ex-minister.

The judge gave the order following an ex-parte motion moved by Turaki’s counsel on September 2. The order was made available to NAN on Friday.

Turaki denies being responsible for Hadiza’s pregnancy which resulted in a baby girl.

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 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 said he advised Uwani to secure admission for her daughter at Bayero University, Kano; Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, or University of Ilorin.

Turaki said that after some weeks Uwani called and told him that she was coming to Abuja together with Hadiza and begged him to accommodate them.

He said he obliged by securing an accommodation at Ideal Guest House, Garki.

He said Uwani secured admission for Hadiza at Baze University in Abuja and he 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, who averred that he took responsibility of Hadiza’s upkeep, said he was surprised to discover that Hadiza connived with her mother to change her surname to Turaki without his knowledge and consent.

He alleged that when Hadiza’s 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 on phone and requested to see him.

He said during the meeting, Uwani told him that her daughter was pregnant and she said he was responsible.

Turaki described it as a blackmail.

But in a statement of defence jointly filed by the parents and daughter, they denied Turaki’s allegations.

The matter was adjourned until September 24 for continuation of hearing.